lets try to project and look ahead to the Ventura era.
He said he will continue what Conte started.... I like how Conte sets the ground work/foundation and then it's followed, before by Allegri and now Ventura.
So he will continue with the 3/5/2, and is hoping to convince Barzagli to play through the World Cup
Projected lineup :
.....................Belotti..Berardi
Florenzi.Verratti.Marchisio.Candreva.Darmian
............Chiellini.Bonucci.Barzagli
.........................Gigi
DeRossi/DeSciglio/ElShara/Insigne/Sturaro/Jorginho/Bernardeschi/Parolo/Zaza/Immobile
You guys adjust as you see fit. How far can this team go in the WC (praying they qualify in a tough group). With the experience they gained from this EURO, can they contend for the title in Russia?
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, idk - It's tough to gauge who will be on the team going forward and not
It'll be interesting to see who's a gamer and who were silver wrapped in Conte gold: forse,
Giaccherini,
Parolo
Defensive-wise, I'm interested to see if Adam Masina gets bought by a bigger club; he might supplant Darmian if both of their respective trajectories stay as is.
In the
midfield, Il Principino & Verratti coming back will obviously be amazing; I'm interested to see if Giaccherinho falls off a cliff or not again. I'm assuming yes without Conte. Those three will be our top 3 central midfielders. Throw Sturaro in as #4.
I never liked Marco Parolo but he actually had a very solid tournament; time will tell if he falls off the Conte-less cliff.
De Rossi was our most important player creativity-wise, but I can't imagine him maintaining his now meh-defense until 2018. I'd say 25% he's on the team in 2018. Marco Benassi will probably take his place and fight with Parolo for a spot.
Florenzi, El Shaarawy, Candreva, Bernardeschi, and now Berardi will all fight for spots on the wings
At
striker, I see Andrea Belotti earning his spot; I suspect he's a darkhorse Azzurri star
Eder will continue to get burn, as well as everybody else currently on the roster. I suspect Ciro will be Ventura's new love child.
Insigne will light it up. Maybe Ventura likes Giovinco? Boh
- - - Updated - - -
------------------------ Buffon ------------------------
------- Barzagli ------ Bonucci ------ Chiellini -------
(Rugani)
Candreva -- Verratti - Marchisio - Florenzi -- De Sciglio
--------------- Insigne -------------------------------------
-------------------------- Eder -----------------------------
It'll be interesting to see. We have a lot of talented wings, so that's good.