Preview: Pigeons vs. Aquile

By: Steven | December 18th, 2008

Saturday, December 20th, 2008 18.00
Stadio Olimpico, Roma

I warriors, brigate rosanero, siamo forti e vinceremo!

Preview

Aah…it feels good not having to go trough another depressing week after another depressing loss to a second-tier team like Cagliari. Siena didn’t bring it, so we did. Without Miccoli, the expected damage control wasn’t even necessary. But this week is something else. The rosanero are travelling the Eternal City, for tea time with the boys in their silky satin baby blue shirts. Lazio were having a great spell after last year’s debacle when the season started, but now they’re in the exact same place as we are: in the belly. Close to the head, but also dangerously close to the shitter. SS NSDAP might have played a fine game against Udinese last week (coming back from a 3-0), but they have been waiting for a win for five games now. Delio Rossi’s ass is on the line, and he doesn’t like it.

‘Inconsistent’ is a keyword that can also be applied to Palermo. Beating the big guys, but failing against little teams, of which some are still hanging on to a Scudetto that was won over 35 years ago. Lazio is none of these. Lazio belongs to the same category as Udinese, Samp, Genoa and…err…Palermo. And as you can see, we lost our only game we played against a team in this category. But, that was another era. The Suit was still in charge and it was the first game of the season. Still, this is a game that could go either way. Difficult to predict, and sometimes too excited to watch.

Squad Status

Palermo

Nothing special here. Miccoli’s back after calling Banti whatever it was he said, so our attack is back at it’s best. There’s not a lot of things to be said: it’s the same as it always is, with Liverani on the field.

Probable Lineup:
Amelia; Cassani, Bovo, Carrozzieri, Balzaretti; Nocerino, Lverani, Bresciano, Simplicio; Cavani, Miccoli

Lazio

The boys over at the Lazyo Offside might do a preview. They even might not do a preview. In the end, Lazio will still be without Siviglia and will have to choose from one of Foggia/Pandev/Rocchi to be benched.

Probable Lineup:
Carrizo; Lichtsteiner, Diakite, Rozenhal, Radu; Brocchi, Ledesma, Dabo; Rocchi, Zarate, Pandev

Categorical Matchup

Playstation vs. Almost Carrozzieri: Palermo. The only real Romano between the goals is on top of his game lately.

Braveheart & Bovo vs. Shiite: Palermo. Rozehnal? Haha. Radu? Haha. Lichtsteiner and Diarrhea, a little less Haha. But our incredible backline kept a clean sheet last week, while Lazio conceded three.

Fozzy and The Butt-Pirates vs. Dunno: Push. The inevitable Hummuseater is still in the centre of midfield, but just like that pulsating purple-brown spot on your Pazzini, you learn to live with it. Lazio has Brocchi and two other guys to push his wheelchair.

Yes Eyebrows! vs. Past Their Prime: Push. Micco’s back and Cavani’s actually showing signs of talent, while Zarate is proving to be a one trick pony and Rocchi’s close to signing for Genoa.

Final Analysis

Although this game is a tad more difficult than the Siena one, not much has changed since last week. This is still a must win game, and with the line-up we have on our hands there is not a single team except for Inter that we have to be afraid of. I mean, this team trashed Milan. Too bad it’s in the Olimpico, where 13.453 farmers will be rooting for Rome’s countryside-team.

Form Guide

Palermo
LDWLW

Lazio
LDLDD

Prediction
I ain’t jinxing it.

MOTM:

Bobby Goblin’s manager, aka the Real King Of Comedy: “Milan is interested in my client as a replacement for Gattuso, but he won’t go to Milan. He wants to stay in Palermo, and fight for a spot in the starting line-up.”