Depression and Failure in Europe

By: Ben | April 10th, 2009

The foul brutish football of the English are once again dominating Europe. I had hoped our current economic recession would sink the English game, the pound now falling to 1.45 to the American dollar and the growing debts of English clubs due to outlandish spending practices would surely begin to take their toll…not in the least(for now).

I was crushed by the Italian execution at the hands of Man U, Chelsea, and Arsenal. After yesterday’s defeat in Germany, Udinese and Italy already have one foot in the grave. However it is not the defeat but lack of a winning mentality that enraged me in yesterday’s game. Quagliarella should have had two and Simone Pepe belongs in Serie B.

Simone Pepe has no place on the National Team, he has no character on the field but a bit of pace. The man is not of the pedigree of champions, he is a rat, a fiend for filling a position better filled by the likes of Antonio Cassano.

Italy has no faith in their youth. We fielded the oldest team in Europe during our miserable run in the Euros. Milan, once world beaters is now a home for geriatrics, Maldini, Favalli, Seedorf, Beckham, Zambrotta, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Emerson, etcetera etcetera. Inter has quite the nursing home as well, Figo, Viera, Materazzi, Cruz, Cordoba, Stankovic, and Crespo. Roma must put the old dog to sleep, Francesco Totti is the crux, the limiter, the thorn of their success. Not to mention Max Tonetto, Perrotta, Panucci, Pizarro, and Loria.

Juventus is most promising with their new concentration in youth. Giovinco, Marchisio and De Ceglie are promising and will prove to be champions as the rebuilding process continues after their Calciopoli collapse. However I’d like to see Del Piero take a bow as well as Trezeguet, Amauri, Zanetti, Nedved, Poulsen, Tiago, and Zebina.

The Italian coefficient continues to fall in the UEFA rankings and if this pattern continues we will lose a spot in the Champions League qualification. It troubles me to think that the Bundesliga could take our fourth spot.

Anyway tomorrow Bologna take on Siena who had just bounced back from an undeserved defeat to Fiorentina with a 2-0 stunner against the reeling Lazio. Mihajlovic has made bold statements “Win at all costs!” yet I can’t help but feel that insecurities lie within. The man can bark but the points continue to slip by.

It is a must win with Torino and Lecce just two points behind and the galloping Chievo distancing themselves from the smell of the dead with a five point buffer.

Probable formations: