When you’re coming off a stretch of games against Sampdoria, Milan, Fiorentina and Torino (on the road), and you’ve picked up 9 of 12 points, there’s no way in hell you can be happy with a draw against Lecce. Especially when you’re playing at home.
The season may be long, but if I’ve learned anything as a calcio fan, it’s that every single point counts, and we should not be dropping any against Lecce. No way no how. These are games that need to be won.
That said, we should be careful about being too dramatic. This wasn’t a loss after all, and if you were paying attention, you would have noticed a bevy of scoring chances wasted, as well as a never say die spirit that I think really showed how much character and determination the team has. Put simply, the scoreline flatters Lecce tremendously, because had Pandev, Ledesma, Mauri, and Foggia converted some of their great opportunities, it could (and probably should) have been a rout. Sometimes, things just don’t go your way.
This isn’t to say there wasn’t anything troubling from this performance, as the defense and goalkeeping on Lecce’s goal left a whole lot to be desired. It’s true that the header clearly caught Carrizo by surprise, but the half-assed swipe he took at the ball was embarrassing, and definitely not his finest work. I watched him play a lot last year in Argentina, so I know how good he is. But with gaffe’s like this (and, some would say, in the Milan game), I can see why some Biancoceleste fans are wondering just what kind of keeper we have. Six games, I think, is pretty early to start criticizing a player still adjusting to a new league and country, but it’s obvious that he can’t keep getting beaten by crap like this…especially when Lecce provided little in the way of offense before or after that fluke.
Of course, Carrizo can’t do everything alone either, and Rozehnal and Siviglia should be taken to task for being out of position, and allowing Tiribocchi to even get a head on the ball. I’ve said in the past that I thought Radu and Rozehnal would be our strongest central pairing, but now I’m wondering if Cribari doesn’t offer a touch more security. Hard to say if he’s a better bet than the Czech international, but I’m curious what Delio will decide next game. I’d also like to see Mourad Meghni get a start over Mauri, but who knows if Rossi will make that change, especially since the overall team performance was for the most part, solid.
If a mistake was made on Saturday though, it was probably in waiting so long to bring Inzaghi on. For most of the game Lecce forced the Aquile out on the wings, crowding the middle and jamming up to seven men in the box. Free flowing, pass-happy football was not going to be on the cards. Basically, the game was calling out for either a big target man (which we don’t have) or an out and out poacher of the highest order (which we do, even if he’s rusty). Inzaghino’s name was written all over this affair, and he didn’t waste much time tying it up. Delio might have to get Simone more involved, at least until Balboa comes back.
Anyway, still sharing top spot…let’s get back to winning ways in Bologna. Forza Lazio.
[From www.lazio.theoffside.com]
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