Donadoni Sacked

[Drumcondra 69er]

Pity, would've prefered him in charge then Lippi again for the qualifiers...

Thoughts anyone....?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/italy/7471598.stm

Italy have parted company with coach Roberto Donadoni following their exit from Euro 2008.

BBC Sport were told of the decision by the Italian football federation (FIGC) after speculation grew around Donadoni's future after the Spain loss.

He signed a two-year contract extension before Euro 2008 - but it contained a 10-day get-out clause on both sides.

Italy lost their quarter-final 4-2 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes of play.

[Pauro 76]

Just there before me. Id have liked him to stay for obvious reasons.

[as_i_say]

Dunno. the type of negative football that italy play is the type of team we would find more difficult to beat. could have forseen two 0-1 defeats.

[TheBoss]

It was 1 game that they were defensive, in the other 3 games, they outplayed the opposition and won 1 match maybe thats why he changed his way and cause Spain are good on the ball.

[jebus]

Ireland have nothing to fear from Italy, no matter who the manager is. Dunne will have Toni in his pocket, from there if someone, or perhaps two players, can lessen Pirlo's influence and we can get our wingers to watch the likes of Grosso bombing forward we could easily get something in Rome and should be looking to win in Dublin

[Razors left peg]

Ireland have nothing to fear from Italy, no matter who the manager is. Dunne will have Toni in his pocket, from there if someone, or perhaps two players, can lessen Pirlo's influence and we can get our wingers to watch the likes of Grosso bombing forward we could easily get something in Rome and should be looking to win in Dublin

Totally agree. Lippi is a top manager but at the moment Italy dont have players that we need to fear

[Mr Maroon]

IF Lippi comes back for them they will be vastly improved from the side that played on Donadonni.

[elroy]

We'd be boned if Stan was the manager of Italy with the players they have at their disposal.

With Lippi likely to be appointed and rumours that he'll talk Nesta and Totti out of retirement we're majorly screwed. Better make sure we take points from Bulgaria, we won't be getting any off these guys.

Id fancy us to get at least a draw at home, if we have any aspirations to qualify then this is the min. We have put in one or two decent performances away from home against big teams in recent years, Germany away was not bad, Swiss away (1-1 draw), France away, so no reason to think that we wouldnt be in with a chance of securing a draw in Italy. On current showing, they arent that much of an attacking force. Mind you we're not much of a force full stop.

[Razors left peg]

We'd be boned if Stan was the manager of Italy with the players they have at their disposal.

With Lippi likely to be appointed and rumours that he'll talk Nesta and Totti out of retirement we're majorly screwed. Better make sure we take points from Bulgaria, we won't be getting any off these guys.

Yeah mate they are absolutely unstoppable as they showed in this tournament with their free flowing football and unbelievably good strikers like Toni:rolleyes:

[OwlsFan]

Dunne will have Toni in his pocket

None of the defenders at Euro 2008 had Toni in their pockets. The saving grace for the defenders was he missed a hat full of chances. Knowing our luck, he'll scuff one in off his shin against us.

[carloz]

With Lippi likely to be appointed and rumours that he'll talk Nesta and Totti out of retirement we're majorly screwed. Better make sure we take points from Bulgaria, we won't be getting any off these guys.
Hardly screwed mate. This is a poor Italian squad, with not much talent breaking through. We will never have a better chance to take points off Italy than in the coming campaign. They looked extremly poor in the European Championships, and except for a favour from Holland they would have deservadly been knocked out at the group stages. All we have to fear is believing the hype about Italy. Plus its very rare for Italy to breeze through qualifying. They always make it difficult for themselves and generally keep it to the last qualifying game to qualify. Plus AFAIK they are the first world cup winners who have had to qualify for the competition. That might have a little effect

[irishultra]

Toni will be perfect for McShane. I think McShane is not bad against big powerful strikers like against Koller and Berbatov.

Italy could never be a team to 'fear'. They have great players like De Rossi and Pirlo but fear is not the word when playing against them. They are not going to rip you apart or anything. Its set plays I fear against them.

[Razors left peg]

Toni will be perfect for McShane. I think McShane is not bad against big powerful strikers like against Koller and Berbatov.

Italy could never be a team to 'fear'. They have great players like De Rossi and Pirlo but fear is not the word when playing against them. They are not going to rip you apart or anything. Its set plays I fear against them.

That is definately going to be our biggest weakness against them.They are big team compared to our team of hobbits. Dunne will be vital against them

[Emmet]

Yeah mate they are absolutely unstoppable as they showed in this tournament with their free flowing football and unbelievably good strikers like Toni:rolleyes:Erm ... and where were we "in this tournament"?

[Razors left peg]

Erm ... and where were we "in this tournament"?

What has that got to do with anything? We didnt qualify because we had a complete clown as manager, it doesnt mean we have to be afraid of any team that did qualify.

[tetsujin1979]

All under 25
you sure about all those players? One quick wikipedia search later....


AmeliaFrom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Amelia Born: April 2, 1982 (age 26). And he'll be doing well to dislodge Buffon

ZaccardoFrom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristian_Zaccardo Born: December 21, 1981 (age 26)

BorrielloFrom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Borriello Born: June 18, 1982 (age 26)

QuagliarellaFrom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabio_Quagliarella Born January 31, 1983 (age 25)

CassanoFrom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Cassano Born: July 12, 1982 (age 25, 26 in 2 weeks)

RossiRossi or di Rossi?

What have we got? Glen ****in WhelanBit unfair after just 2 games, wouldn't you say? We've also got Paddy ****in McCarthy, Sean ****in Scannell, Stephen ****in O'Halloran (please God), Darron ****in Gibson, and so on.

[Razors left peg]

you sure about all those players? One quick wikipedia search later....

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Amelia Born: April 2, 1982 (age 26). And he'll be doing well to dislodge Buffon
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristian_Zaccardo Born: December 21, 1981 (age 26)
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Borriello Born: June 18, 1982 (age 26)
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabio_Quagliarella Born January 31, 1983 (age 25)
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Cassano Born: July 12, 1982 (age 25, 26 in 2 weeks)
Rossi or di Rossi?
Bit unfair after just 2 games, wouldn't you say? We've also got Paddy ****in McCarthy, Sean ****in Scannell, Stephen ****in O'Halloran (please God), Darron ****in Gibson, and so on.

We've also got a first team of quality Premiership players which at the moment is a higher standard than Serie A.Some people I think tend to see a foreign name player and automatically think that they are infinately better than an irish lad.For example Robbie Keane and Berbratov, Robbie has more goals and more assists in their time together at Spurs and he doesnt get half enough credit. Yes overall Italy do have a better squad than us but we definately have enough quality to cause them alot of problems

[TheBoss]

What is going on here, Italy have one of the best squads in the world for talent. If you saw in the qualifiers for the Euro's you would be fearing them.

[Razors left peg]

What is going on here, Italy have one of the best squads in the world for talent. If you saw in the qualifiers for the Euro's you would be fearing them.

I did see them in the qualifiers and I seen a well organised Scotish team come very close to matching and beating them... personally I think we can do better than the Scots

[Mr Maroon]

Practically everyone here is underestimating Italy. They will be much stronger when we face them than they were in the Euros. They'll regroup, bring in some of their new players into the team and (probably) have Lippi back in charge.

BTW, Donadoni hasn't been sacked yet. He will be any day now.http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun24q.html

[irishultra]

How much stronger can they be? Italy are Italy. They have better player than us, thats a given. I just think people are refuting that they are somehow a team which we couldn't possibly beat.

I do think people are under estimating their performance in Euro 2008. Against France they played welll, and were unlucky against Romania(as in luck was against them)

[irishfan86]

Toni is one of the world's premier strikers who is having a bad tournament.

The way some of you are writing him and his team off is ridiculous.

[jmurphyc]

We shouldn't fear Italy but to completely write them off and say they don't have a talented squad or have any talent breaking through is wrong. They still have one of the most talented squads in Europe and considering they'll have a new manager in place for the Euros you can't completely judge them on this tournament. Remember, they went out at the group stages of Euro 2004 before going on to win the World Cup 2 years later.

We can beat them, but Italy will start the qualification campaign as one of the favourites to win the tournament itself.

[ShamrockIreland]

Well I'll take the positive view that although Lippi will have have plenty of time to prepare them for qualification we will also be learning our new system under Trap. We never get hammered except in Cyprus:( and could easily get 2 draws or even one win one loss. I do agree we don't have much coming through but have any of you seen much of Keith Andrews at the MK Dons? At 27 I don't know and even if he gets a move and follow Ince to Blackburn is he up to it? I've seen a bit of Owen Garvan and believe he will play a vital role but is he too young at this level. Just wondering after reading the Italian players listed who are under 25 what do we have in comparison?

[jebus]

This thread is hilarious. I like how people here diss Serie A and the Italian squad without knowing a damn thing about it.


I'm not insulting anyone, I personally prefer the Serie A to the English Premier (and La Liga is better than both of them), but a well organised Irish team (and I believe we will be) have nothing to fear of an aging Italian team. The majority of those 'youngsters' mentioned previously are failing to live up to their potential (whens the last time someone thought Cassano was a world beater for instance), and a disciplined defence, marshalled by Dunne, should be able to handle Toni, Grosso (who I think is a superb player), Del Piero etc. Pirlo is the main danger to this team, and neutralising him will be the difference between getting points off Italy and failing to qualify in my eyes

[tetsujin1979]

what the hell?
Amelia
Chiellini
Zaccardo
De Rossi
Aquilani
Borriello
Quagliarella
Cassano
Rossi
Montolivo

All under 25 and most playing in the champions league. What have we got? Glen ****in Whelan


Amelia From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Amelia Born: April 2, 1982 (age 26). And he'll be doing well to dislodge Buffon
Zaccardo From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristian_Zaccardo Born: December 21, 1981 (age 26)
Borriello From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Borriello Born: June 18, 1982 (age 26)
Quagliarella From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabio_Quagliarella Born January 31, 1983 (age 25)
Cassano From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Cassano Born: July 12, 1982 (age 25, 26 in 2 weeks)

This thread is hilarious. I like how people here diss Serie A and the Italian squad without knowing a damn thing about it.
Are you trying to be ironic with that last post?

[Emmet]

What has that got to do with anything? We didnt qualify because we had a complete clown as manager, it doesnt mean we have to be afraid of any team that did qualify.Okay - let me put it another way - how many of our players would get into Italy's starting first-choice XI?

[OwlsFan]

Okay - let me put it another way - how many of our players would get into Italy's starting first-choice XI?

About 3 which is the same number even during the Charlton era I'd expect to get in to the Italian team.

[carloz]

This thread is hilarious. I like how people here diss Serie A and the Italian squad without knowing a damn thing about it.

Yes im sure everyone who has said a bad word about Italy or the Serie A obviously doesnt know a damn thing about it:rolleyes:. Serie A is strugglin at the moment, and there are few that can deny that. Their champions Inter were knocked out by the 4th best team in England, Roma to Man Utd and AC Milan to Arsenal. Up to a couple of years ago that would have been unthinkable. The quality in Serie A is not what it was, the Italian youth breaking through is not the quality it used to be. Of course they will be overwhelming favourites when we play them, but there have been many better Italian squads in the past 10 years, there is non reason why we cant be positive to a certain level.

[carloz]

it doesnt mean we have to be afraid of any team
Exactly. Too many people think 'Oh its Italy, we havent a hope in the world against them'. I hate this mentality. If we go with the right belief and the correct tactics we are capable of getting a result against them. Romania, a decent and capable team but no world beaters, cause the Italians quite a lot of problems when they picked up the courage to attack them rather than sitting back. There isn't a single team in the world that Ireland should be afraid of playing, or who i think Ireland wouldnt have a hope against, and certainly not this Italian squad.

[seanfhear]

Exactly. Too many people think 'Oh its Italy, we havent a hope in the world against them'. I hate this mentality. If we go wit the right belief and the correct tactics we are capable of getting a result against them. Romania, a decent and capable team but no world beaters, cause the Italians quite a lot of problems when they picked up the corage to attack them rather than sitting back. There isn't a single team in the world that i would that Ireland should be afraid of playing, or who i think Ireland wouldnt have a hope against, and certainly not this Italian squad.
If you dont have hope and fight what is the point in turning up.Fight to the death and hope for the best.

[Closed Account 2]

I did see them in the qualifiers and I seen a well organised Scotish team come very close to matching and beating them... personally I think we can do better than the Scots

I saw some of their games too. The first game after the world cup the lost in Livorno 2-0 to Croatia (friendly). Then they played Lithuania in Napoli (I think) and only drew 1-1. Then they lost 3-1 at the Stade de France (in truth it could have 5-1). The Italians, like any big team, can be beaten. Scotland nearly beat them away in Bari, and they only just beat the Faroe Islands 2-1 away in June last year. The Dutch just creamed them 3-0 and the Romanians had the lion's share of the game 2 weeks ago.

We should be looking for at least 3 points off them in our games.

[Emmet]

About 3 which is the same number even during the Charlton era I'd expect to get in to the Italian team. I could see the likes of Keane and Duff making the squad but they are not good enough to get into their starting XI. Given wouldn't get in ahead of Buffon ... I can't think of any of our current team who would get into Italy's first-choice side - who are your three?

I'm not saying that we should go into the matches expecting to lose - I'm saying that Italy are significantly better than we are and have significantly better players than we do. Reading some of the comments in this thread you'd think it was San Marino (a side we only just managed to beat don't forget) we were going to play. A little bit of perspective wouldn't go amiss here: they are the World Champions!!

[Supreme feet]

In the last eight years, in competitive games, we've played Holland twice, Portugal twice, Germany three times, France twice and Spain once. In not one of those games have we been outclassed. Beaten, indeed, on only two occasions (Germany and France, both 1-0) - but we've always been competitive, and have never been on the end of thrashings. I've said it before - it's our form against the smaller teams that has let us down in previous campaigns.

Between 2000 and 2002, we went unbeaten in six competitive games against Holland, Portugal, Germany and Spain. We did that with limited players such as Harte, Carr, Staunton, Gary Kelly, Breen, Kinsella, Holland, Kilbane and McAteer playing key roles.

Back then, were coming up against far superior squads (on paper), and we matched them, because we were motivated, hungry, well-organised, hard-working and well-balanced. I firmly believe that, by next April, those qualities will have returned, and we'll be in good shape. Italy do have a far more high-profile and talented squad than us, and they remain overwhelming favourites, on current form, to top the group. To take any points from the Italians, we'll need a lot of luck, but I wouldn't write us off. I think our games will be tight. Just think of Wales in October 2002.

[Razors left peg]

Okay - let me put it another way - how many of our players would get into Italy's starting first-choice XI?

Very few but again that isnt the point. A very well organised team is greater than the sum of its parts, for instance, how many of the Romanian players would get in the Dutch team and yet they finished ahead of them in qualifying, the same with Croatia and England.We could even look to out own past, we qualified for the 2002 world cup beating a Dutch team that on paper looked frightening, we have beaten England,Italy,Spain,Portugal etc all of whom on paper looked out of our depth.
Im far from writing off Italy,as world champions they deserve alot of respect but that doesnt mean that year after year they are going to be the best team in the World.Sometimes a country will have a dip for a few years in the talent it produces.Ciaran listed off a number of players and while I have no doubt they are good players I dont think that they are of the same level as the players that won the World Cup 2 years ago.As has been said by someone else here there is often a tendancy to look at someone like Italy and instantly think that they are too good for us. I would prefer to look at it from the point that we have some decent players ourselves under the guidence of a world class manager and that we can punch above our weight because of it.... Christ we even managed to do ok against the Germans under Staunton and it looks like they are gonna make the Euro finals!

[RogerMilla]

In the last eight years, in competitive games, we've played Holland twice, Portugal twice, Germany three times, France twice and Spain once. In not one of those games have we been outclassed. Beaten, indeed, on only two occasions (Germany and France, both 1-0) - but we've always been competitive, and have never been on the end of thrashings. I've said it before - it's our form against the smaller teams that has let us down in previous campaigns.

Between 2000 and 2002, we went unbeaten in six competitive games against Holland, Portugal, Germany and Spain. We did that with limited players such as Harte, Carr, Staunton, Gary Kelly, Breen, Kinsella, Holland, Kilbane and McAteer playing key roles.

Back then, were coming up against far superior squads (on paper), and we matched them, because we were motivated, hungry, well-organised, hard-working and well-balanced. I firmly believe that, by next April, those qualities will have returned, and we'll be in good shape. Italy do have a far more high-profile and talented squad than us, and they remain overwhelming favourites, on current form, to top the group. To take any points from the Italians, we'll need a lot of luck, but I wouldn't write us off. I think our games will be tight. Just think of Wales in October 2002.

excellent post supreme feet , good points well made , you even have a doubter like me questioning my reasoning for my current gloom ! :D

[Closed Account 2]

I agree with the above post, it makes an excellent point. One minor thing I would disagree with is placing Harte and Breen in the "limited" players section. I think both were excellent players and very much underrated. Breen could read the game like a book, and he rarely mis-timed a tackle. Ian Harte was a great player, not a world class defender, but so very good going forward. If he had the right player playing infront of him, one who could track back and cover him, he would offer so much going forward. He was a great set piece player, and this even overlapped into crossing ability when the ball was in active play as long as he had a bit of time. Time and again his set piece delivery made the difference for us. He was one of the best free kick takers of the modern era.

[Greenforever]

None.

Into their second XI? Again none.

Into their third XI? I'd Given, Dunne and Keane in there.


How many players can they play - 11

How many players will we have - 11

Somtimes having too many players to choose from can be a hinderance, and as posted out we have nothng to fear against the top teams it's the Georgia's we need to be afraid of, very afraid of.

[Emmet]

We did that with limited players such as Harte, Carr, Staunton, Gary Kelly, Breen, Kinsella, Holland, Kilbane and McAteer playing key roles.Most of whom would walk into the team now ... I'm not saying some of the current squad don't have the potential to be players like those you've listed there - but at the moment we have a squad that is probably the worst Irish squad for nearly three decades.

[Emmet]

How many players can they play - 11

How many players will we have - 11
The point is that their eleven players are a wee bit better at football than our eleven players :)

[cavan_fan]

None.

Into their second XI? Again none.

Into their third XI? I'd Given, Dunne and Keane in there.

Dunne v Materazzi????

Robbie v Toni (frankly me v Toni!)

Finnan v Panucci?

So as a minimum can you tell me the 4 Italian central defenders better than Dunne?

[Emmet]

Anyone who thinks the italians will be some kind of walkover would do well to go and watch the tape from the first half of the friendly we played against them in August 2005. They played their first XI in the first half and then made a load of substitutions at half time wich disrupted their flow but that first half was one of the most one-sided halfs I have ever seen. They scored two but it could easily have been five or six by half-time.

[Razors left peg]

Anyone who thinks the italians will be some kind of walkover would do well to go and watch the tape from the first half of the friendly we played against them in August 2005. They played their first XI in the first half and then made a load of substitutions at half time wich disrupted their flow but that first half was one of the most one-sided halfs I have ever seen. They scored two but it could easily have been five or six by half-time.

I dont think anyone here is suggesting that the Italians will be a walkover in anyway at all, just that they are not an unbeatable superpower in the world of football at this time

[SkStu]

there is a terrible trend to overrate Irish players and underestimate foreign players on this messageboard.

Ireland will do well to take points against the current Italian team and player for player they have better than us in every position. Concentrating on taking as close as is possible to maximum points against the minnows and Bulgaria is more important (in my opinion) than arguing over whether Italy are better than us.

[jmurphyc]

I personally wouldn't rate Duff over Perrotta. Perrotta didn't have the greatest of tournaments but he's still a good player IMO. If Duff could get back to his best he would easily get in to the Italian team though. Besides, a few of those players don't even play in the same position: McGeady and De Rossi are totally different players for example.

[Emmet]

Concentrating on taking as close as is possible to maximum points against the minnows and Bulgaria is more important (in my opinion) than arguing over whether Italy are better than us.Absolutely - we should never have come within seconds of drawing with San Marino and getting hammered by Cyprus ... the biggest challenge for our new management team be avoiding those sorts of results in our next qualifying campaign. If - and it is a very big 'if' - we get anything off the Italians then that's great. But we should be focussing on the weaker sides in the group because that's where we have far more realistic opportunities.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Given-Buffon 0-1
O' Shea-Zambrotta 0-2
Dunne-Chiellini 0-3
Mc Shane-Panucci 0-4
Kelly-Grosso 0-5
Carsley-Gattuso 0-6
A.Reid-Pirlo 0-7
Duff-Perotta 1-7
Mc Geady-Di Rossi 1-8
Keane-Toni 1-9
Doyle-Camorenesi 1-10

10-1 Italy...
Not too good. But team Ireland under Trapp, against Italy...
Good...

Dunne is better then Chiellini for me and to suggest Toni is better then Keane is frankly laughable.

Duff at this monet in time isn't better then Perotta either, it's very debatable whether Duff should even be in opur starting 11 without getting some gametime under his belt and proving that he hasn't totally lost what made him special following his injury.

In any case, direct comparisons like that miss the point entirely, it will come down to whether our team can become more then the sum of it's parts. Our record against top sides is not bad, we rarely get beaten in competitive games although on the flip side we win even less of them, it's generally a draw or a tight defeat. With a proper manager in charge there's no reason for me why we can't improve that record. Italy always do enough in qualifiers but they always have wobbles over the course of the group (Faroes for example despite winning 2-1). As others have said it's the smaller nations we need to improve against, it's not the results against the tradional powers that have cost us in recent qualifying groups.

[OwlsFan]

Who are your three?


Dunne, Keane and a fit Duff.

[carloz]

I still am convinced we got Italy at the right time, and i think some people on this board may be slighly over rating them as a team. Individually yes they are excellent, but as a team they rarely looked top class in their qualkifying group and only impressed in patches in their group matches aganst Romania and France. But looking again at all the first seeds, the draw could have been easier for us

1st Seeds: Greece, Portugal, Holland, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Croatia and the Czech Republic.

When you look at that again, its hard to see a tougher place to go than Italy. However they do have a knack of making things a little difficult for them in qualifying. In recent years i remember them dropping points in Lithuania, Georgia, Wales, Hungary,Slovenia, Scotland and Norway. there away form has always been a little suspect. We have to believe we can get three points from them in Dublin, then getting anything in Italy would be a massive bonus

[jebus]

I'd rather go to Italy than Spain or Holland at the moment to be honest. I think this tournament will have given both teams a huge boost in confidence, and the way both teams play, well suffice to say I don't think we could handle them