Double Eagle: Lazio – Palermo
By: LorenzoRosanero | September 24th, 2011
Protests, disappointment, calls for a new coach – these were things that many in the Palermo camp recall from the summer. What seems incredible is that these very things are currently problems in Casa Lazio as fans have showed their disapproval of Edy Reja despite the elderly mister putting them on the brink of Champions League qualification last season.
The other “Eagles” bolstered their team over the summer, ridding themselves of problem-child Mauro Zarate while bringing in veteran goalscorers and international names Djibril Cisse and Miroslav Klose to lead their attack. In addition to them, Lazio brought in Konko from Genoa to replace Lichtensteiner and signed former Italy international goalkeeper Federico Marchetti. All those acquisitions reinforce a team with good players like Christian Ledesma, Stefano Mauri and Hernanes in the midfield. If anything, the Roman club has shown how deadly it is with their romps in Europe (11 goals in 3 games) and holding title winners Milan to a 2-2 draw at the San Siro.
Yet, Lazio currently stands on 4 points after losing to Genoa at home and beating winless Cesena away. The biancoceleste will be looking for their first home win against Palermo on Sunday and Reja will hope a win shuts up his critics. Unfortunately, the ex-Napoli boss will have to do without Biava, Gonzalez, Mauri and Radu due to injury.
Meanwhile, Palermo has been experiencing quite the opposite. After all the dismay up until early September, the appointment of Devis Mangia has been a stroke of fortune for a team and city that was looking for some luck. Mangia has restored belief and hope in Palermo with his positive attitude, likability with the players and entertaining brand of high tempo calcio. Of course, wins against Inter and Cagliari while earning six points out of a possible nine to start the season help too. Yet, there is a long way to go and the match against Lazio provides Mangia with a real road test – a place where Palermo has habitually struggled for longer than minds would like to remember.
Probable Lineup
Bench: Benussi; Munoz, Aguirregaray; Acquah, Bacinovic, Ilicic; Abel Hernandez
Once again, the big question surrounds the status of Josip Ilicic. The Slovenian may start Sunday’s match from the bench once again after the terrific display of Eran Zahavi and the subsequent tantrum Josip put on after realizing he wouldn’t be playing. Without criticism, Mangia said Josip “needs to rediscover the desire to play calcio and entertain himself.” Wise words that seem to fit the bill regarding his recent slump.
The back line should remain unchanged while Bertolo and Zahavi may get their second consecutive start considering the good performances both put on against Cagliari. Barreto is a lock in the middle of the pitch while Della Rocca looks set to start once again. Acquah suffered whip lash during last game so perhaps Armin may see some action at some point. Regardless, it must be said that the biggest obstacle that Bacinovic faces is his own attitude. Up top, Miccoli will most likely play despite his grandfather’s recent passing (on Friday) and will leave after the game to be with his family. Pinilla looks like a slight favorite to start over Abel Hernandez.
Final Words
Palermo will need to play with the concentration required for a full 90 minutes on Sunday if they want to take home any points. Sure, they got away with playing 80 minutes while up 3-0 against Cagliari but Lazio have the players who will punish the Rosanero at every chance they get. Devis Mangia has stated he wants “one Palermo” meaning a team that plays as well on the road as they do at home. If Mangia were to succeed in this aspect, he’d stand on near unprecedented grounds as the most glaring weakness of the Rosanero in years past has been their road form. It will not be easy but perhaps with new players and new determination comes a new way of playing and surpassing the psychological hurdles associated with “Palermo away”. The match against Atalanta in Bergamo did little to reverse the trend, but a win against Lazio would be a big step forward.
SIAMO TERRONI E CE NE VANTIAMOOOOO!!!!
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Category: Abel Hernández, Afriyie Acquah, Alexandros Tzorvas, Armin Bačinovič, Edgar Barreto, Eran Zahavi, Eros Pisano, Ezequiel Muñoz, Fabrizio Miccoli, Federico Balzaretti, Francesco Benussi, Giulio Migliaccio, Josip Iličić, Matías Silvestre, Mauricio Pinilla, Nicolás Bertolo, Palermo, Palermo Players 2011-2012, Preview, Serie A, Team News
Comments
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Two hours to go. This game will be hardest so far this campaign. Pinilla’s been listening to Red Hot Chilli Peppers all weekend (as declared on twitter – good grief!) so I think he’ll be fired up. Zahavi thrilled to be playing at the Olimpico (Hebrew twitter!). Looking forward to seeing how Devis handles this one. Forza Palermo!!
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Lazio fans complaining about Reja are nutters, He is building a quality squad there. I actually fancy them for a CL spot with Cisse/Klose upfront and Hernanez bossing the Midfield.
Today I think unfortunately we will shift a few goals, I think it will be down to our frontline to get us a draw but Im thinking maybe 3-1 or 3-2 for Lazio.
I just never fancy us away from home at all.. Hope I am proven wrong though! Be good to see Bertolo get consecutive games thats for sure.
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Red Hot Chilli Peppers ! I’ve had my pre-game meal let’s go. Lazio is fielding a very attack-minded side. If we don’t get down early we should be able to muster some dangerous counter attacks. This will be quite a test for our fitness and tactics.
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I see we’re starting the same 11 as we did v. Cagliari – Ilicic on the bench. Zo you had it on the nose !
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Woops ! Never looked at the strikers.
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Tzorvas needs to claim those crosses! Lucky silvestre was there.
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25 minutes in and we look solid – for a road game.
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We have contained them alot better then I thought we would, Entertainment wise pretty awful game lol. Happy if we can take a point away though.
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Abel still not learned to pass to people who are in on goal.. pisses me off.
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The frig was Tzorvas doing? Benussi gotta get a start next game. Good 0-0 at halftime.
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Abel has a heavy passing foot… unlike Bertolo I love wathcing him bring down those knee high passes with such ease. Still, it’s the kind of dullish road game we have to play and possibly we’ll see Miccoli in the second half.
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My review of the first half: YAWN!
I was all ready for a thriller. Almost midnight here and this game is making me drowsy. But I will settle for 0-0 result here so long as we beat ‘em on the ritorno at home. -
Ilicic for Pinilla interesting move. Pinilla seemed to take a knock in the first half and wasn’t as sharp after that.
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Thats much better from Tzorvas.. Dont understand Bertolo out.. thought he was playing pretty decent. Lazio are stepping up.. getting worried here.
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Ilicic much better in what is really a 4-4-1-1
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I’ll take the point. Better game from Tzorvas and Miccoli rested. Just beat Siena next week and we head into the international break with 10 of a possible 15 points. Not bad considering where we thought we might be after being knocked out of Europe.
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boring game from minute 1 to minute 90.
I understand playing defense first away to a good team, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Personally though, I thought Mangia’s substitutions today were questionable. Barreto and Della Rocca both seemed non-existent for large stretches of the game. One or both of them should have been yanked sometime between halftime and about 70 minutes, to see if a different player could have helped create a chance or two going forward.
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I think honestly if Cisse had his finishing boots on we would have lost, Tzorvas did make some pretty badass saves but also fumbled 2 or 3 times. ^Thats why i was kinda miffed with Bertolo out.. out of the mids he probably played the best up to that point.. Also noticed already this season having Silvestre insted of Bovo in the backline just feels so much more secure.. last ditch tackles, Great strength and no really pointless retarded fouls.
All in all we took 1 point from Lazio away .. cant really complain.
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Silvestre was a rock yesterday and his influence is huge. So glad to have him with us. Seems Ilicic is waking up to himself a bit, though I want to see a bit more aggression from him. I thought Lazio had the edge on us for the most part so I’ll happily take the point.
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7 pts from four games? I’ll take it, happily
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The absence of Bovo-Munoz is really obvious. And isn’t that just grand!!!
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Who was that “expert” who gave us a rating of 3 before the season? For us tto take a pt against Lazio in rome during a mid day game w/out Miccoli is a good sign. Must say Acqah lokked strong as well as the whole back line…..a welcome change FORZA PALERMO!!!!!!!
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Its a long season dude^ Our transfer campaign was pretty poor realisticly. We took 3 points against an Inter team battered By Novara.. and still let in silly goals against Cagliari.
I am still happy with the point tally so far but yeah.. Its a very VERY long season and when Pinilla is out for long spells of it we will feel it.
I think Gazetta was pretty fair.
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i think Barretto was a really undervalued signing that would boost us up to about a 4. We realistically lost too many key players.
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Barreto has been one of the most undervalued players in Serie A over the last couple of years.
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