MATCH DAY 1

  vs



Ladies and Gentlemen, the new season is upon us!!

After a fairly average World Cup, the whole reason why we are ALL here (espeically since my culling  ) is nigh. A brand new Serie A season (The most interesting league in the world) following all of ours number one and only club, Società Sportiva Lazio.

At the beginning of August we all thought we were in for a season of ruin. No marquee signings to think of. But now just a few days until the first KO of the new season and we know we have some fresh quality into the side. Mark Bresciano is a solid midfielder who at least would provide us better quality off the bench if needs be. Javier Garrido as a better defensive replacement to Kolarov... but of course it's all about Hernanes. He may or may not get 90 minutes in this game owing to his lack of match fitness but I think we all know he has the potential to be one of the best midfielders to ever play for our club, eclipsing awesome talent like Nedved, Veron, and Simeone. Could he finally be the regular  'through ball' machine we have been desperate for, since Ledesma in his first season? And of course on the back of us keeping Floccari and, by all counts, a more relaxed Zarate, with good old (literally) Capitano chipping in with goals I'm sure; competing with a new striker in the offing either Roque Santz Cruz or David Trezeguet. We shall wait and see.

As you are blatently aware, the harsh reality of things never escape my posts. The defence is still very weak. Muslera is a strong goalkeeper but, coupled with Reja's fetishism with 3 at the back, it could be a strange, strange season - the FB's are not happy in their position, and Reja has admitted that Del Nero could get the nod for Sunday because he is more comfortable being played in the role he wants the Left FB to play. Who honestly knows whether Reja's stubbornness and weak defence could cost us a European place. I'm really not to sure, anything could happen.

The Marassi is not an easy place to go, but I say, if you are going to come away with 3 points, the best chance is to do it early, before it has time to become a fortress. Off the back of CL heartbreak, it could work one of two ways; either they cannot recover both physically and mentally from their ordeals on Tuesday night, or they will come out like mad terriers yapping at our ankles, which I suspect might happen.

Our strength's are obvious, much like Samp's, Cass and Pazz. But like us their defence is also very weak, and their midfield isn't much either aside from Poli, who is not yet the finished article. So really these are evenly matched teams and on paper you could legitimately put us ahead.

Season 2010/2011. Let's have a good time, come what may, which I'm sure we will. FORZA LAZIO! 

If anyone is old enough to remember the first ever live game on Channel 4 it was Samp - Lazio (1992/3) and it was a classic, 3-3! Signori got two on his debut and Fuser also scored a screamer! This was this start of my love affair with Lazio, prior to that I had only been able to watch highlights on Italian tv with my Dad and listen to Calcio Minuto per Minuto on Radio Bedfordshire.

Am really hoping for a good result on Sunday and after so many years I am really excited about this season, I'm sure we'll be in the top 6 if we can keep everyone fit.

so great to see one of these again 

this should be a great game that should result in a point at the very least. I don't see Hernanes match fitness being an issue, he was in the beginning of his season with São Paulo, a hand full of games in. though adapting to Serie my take time, I don't think we will be disappointed. as for our floating wing backs, I am also skeptical of this formation. the way it would seem Reja is planing for them to be used as an all purpose flank may call for more of a defensive midfielder rather than a side back like Garrido. has Del Nero finally found his position? who knows, I doubt it, but we will see.

the weekend can not come soon enough. benvenuto alla nuova stagione  may it be a good one, Forza Lazio!!!

I cant wait for the Serie A to get started i think we have a tough opening game and a draw would be a decent result in my opinion. lets hope that samp are suffering a European hangover and we can perhaps catch them by suprise. We have made some decent signings this summer, i'm particularly looking forward to seeing Hernanes  my prediction will be either 1-1 or 1-2 for Lazio (thats probably my heart ruling over my head though)

FORZA LAZIO PER SEMPRE!!!

Any predictions on the formation?  From what I've read on Lazialita the practise matches seem to suggest (rightly or wrongly) that this is what Reja will go with...

Muslera

Biava, Dias, Radu

Lichtsteiner, Matuzalem, Brocchi, Del Nero

Hernanes, Zarate

Floccari

I can understand why he would pick Brocchi for this potentially tough away game, you want a ball winner and fighter and Ledesma doesn't really fit the bill. I am surprised that Reja favours Matuzalem at the registra but that is what I have read. Del Nero is the only real alternative to Garrido who is currently injured (for this weekend at least).  What I don't get is why he'd select Biava over Stendardo, it might just be a positional thing because Willy seems a much better central defender and he can score.  Apparently Hernanes and Zarate have been inseparable in training...young love..!

Interesting. I'd be surprised if Ledesma didnt play but you never know.

I think Foggia is seen more by Reja as an alternative to Zarate and not a winger in a 3-5-2 so he will be from the bench more often than not. I really haven't seen or heard much about Gonzalez but I imagine he'll just be a squad player, maybe replacing Lichtsteiner occasionally or Garrido.

I'd rather have Stendardo or Diakite for Biava. We need some height at the back to cover Pazzini. Other then that I'm pretty satisfied.