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/foot...ly/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

[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

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....

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)

Rossi

Rossi or di Rossi?

What have we got? Glen ****in Whelan

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.

[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/footba...ia/jun24q.html