I didn't read anyone's comment here, and I don't know how you guys took this result and performance, but I have to admit, Ranieri keeps shocking me!
Watching Fiorentina's performance the past weeks and specially against Roma, I was expecting them to own us with a heavy defeat. Their beautiful game and offensive tactics and all..
I will start with Ranieri. He put an amazing formation with the available players he had, and deactivated that Fiorentina's power. It was a very clever tactics, a very solid defense with a fast and clever attacks, but we were unlucky not to score on some occasions. This was Ranieri's positive start, but he sadly ruined his own beautiful work with his wrong substitutions. I understand Nedved got exhausted and he had to go out thou I would keep him, but that's ok. but why you take Iaquinta off?? The man was pressing the opponets all the time, If you had to take off an attacker, then you could simply take Trezeguet out, we needed to not to concede a goal, what's the point to keep him if we were leading up 1-0?? Why would you field Del Piero in? to support him? what was the point? Del piero was very bad today except a one good pass, he ruined the game when he held the ball longer than he should and he missed it to the opponent in a dangerous positions, more than once! You shouldn't underestimate them Ranieri you could place a defender or a midfielder instead of Iaquinta. Even with that mistake I rate Ranieri high but -1 point for the wrong subs, I still appreciate him thou for the 1 point away against a side like Fiorentina
Ranieri 7
Buffon: did good saves like usual he was always in the right place when it was needed, and he couldn't do anything about the goal. 7
Defense was very solid today, they killed all of Fiorentina's attacks.
Grygera: had a solid game, he helped the midfield sometimes offensively, good game. 6.75
Molinaro: now I see why everyone is praising this dude, this was my first match to watch his entire game, and I am very impressed, he is a great tackler, does it in a very clean way. Thou he is very bad offensively, he must stay back and shouldn't pass the middle of the field, and let Chiellini go forward from the center and he should cover his place when it is needed. He is a bad crosser and a bad passer, but a solid defender! 6.5
Legrotaglie: Apart from the touching the ball in the box at the last minutes and awarding them a penalty (the moment of dumbness) he had a solid game, it is unbelievable how he improved like this, but he also makes stupid and unnecessary fouls outside and even inside of the penalty area, he should be smarter than that. Ignoring that crazy reflection on the last minutes he had a solid match. Minus half points for the last incident. 6.5
Chiellini: He should keep his temper low, he is a dickhead sometimes and gets angry very quick, Fiorentina could earn a penalty on what he did with Vieri in the box, and he could earn a red card for that and everything could get uglier. He needs to be disciplined. Thou he had also a great match, rarely made mistake, i prefer him on the left, but we don't have much options, he is good on both positions. 7
Brazzo: didn't impressed me much today, just like other midfielders, an average game he had, he doesn't cover Camoranesi's absence, I still think he should play at the wingback. 5.75
Nedved: He wasn't the super Nedved we always see, but he did his role the way it should, had some great passes, and a good shot saved by Frey, he will be back stronger once Camoranesi is back and Almiron is on form, he can't carry the whole midfield on his back anymore.. 6.5
Almiron: was very slow, missed the ball alot to the opponents, his passes wasn't accurate today, wasn't his day I suppose, he didn't add much to the game. 5.5
Nocerino: I like the way he works hard, but he plays it dirty, always in the risk to get the red card, sure he supports the team to pressure the opponents attacks, one of the reasons we were solid defensively. but like Legrotaglie, he awarded fouls in a dangerous areas. 6.5
Iaquinta: Another good performance today, he worked very hard, helped the attack and was creative enough to pass the fiorentina's field by himself or with one of his team mates, with clever passes and dribbles, today he also supported the team offensively by pressuring their attacks from his position. The goal he scored wasn't really that easy, very good positioning and a great shot, he let no chance for Frey to save! 7
Trezeguet: like usual, he was invisible the whole match, but had a scoring chance couldn't score it in two attempts. 5.75
as for the subs, Palladino had a good game too, but didn't have the time to make a difference I would rate a 5.75 for that, and as for Del Piero , he did what Palladino couldn't in that short of time, which was to ruin the game. He kept the ball unnecessary and lost the ball to fiorentina at the time we could make a counter attack, he did give Trezeguet a good pass the only positive thing I remember but was very slow to catch a ball when he could score if he could catch, sounds harsh maybe but 4.5 is all I could give as a rating..
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