Delio Rossi calls for all of us to forget about the derby and concentrate on other upcoming matches. But somehow, I can`t do that. At least until the kick off against Genoa, this Sunday at 3 PM. Defeats or wins in derbies include just too much emotions to forget them easily. For instance, when we lost 5-1 in a derby few seasons ago, I suffered a trauma, I could not concetrate at work and my boss noticed that. I was devastated to say the least. It took me a week to get over it. The oposite happened the last season`s derby when Behrami scored in the last minute to clinch a win. I was just too happy for the whole week. Never mind, I guess you have had enough of it with me this week.

On other news, it appears that Siviglia got injured and could miss the Genoa clash. The same goes for Ledesma and Radu who will miss through suspensions. Also, Rossi is thinking of resting Pandev and playing with Foggia-Rocchi-Zarate upfront. It will also be interesting to see our midfield without Ledesma. Dabo is expected to replace him. Brocchi and Meghni may start as well in the middle of the park. And if Siviglia doen`t make it, Diakite may see some playing minutes.

In an interesting story at corrieredellosport.it, it says that Lazio is trying to sign Javier Mascherano from Liverpoo. According to the same papers, the contacts with his manager have already been established. However, given his salary demands, I doubt he would join us. If he was available, I think many clubs would be after him.

The fears that I expressed in my previous posts related to Delio Rossi starting with tridente became reality last night. Just like in the first half against Catania, tridente was unable to create let alone score.

Everyone who has watched Lazio this season could see that we lost the match because our coach tried to play offensive football while making attacking players play in the midfield. How stupid. It rarely happened to me that I get furious with coach like it happened last night, when I was totally pissed off with coach Rossi, who seems too much to rely on certain players/tactics knowing that such players/tactics proved wrong in earlier matches.

It was so painful to see Pandev last night, who had to play in the right wing and pick up balls in the middle of the pitch, thus became totally isolated. Something similar happened with Zarate as well. And when the latter two were isolated, Rocchi was in the same situation as well. Hence no threats for rioma defense at all.

Blaming players would be so unfair, as they tried and run and everything. But even the best soldiers in the world are doomed to lose the battle if they are commanded by a poor general. And that is what happened last night.

We had all prerequisites to win last night: better prepared players, in a better psychological condition, better standings, better offense and defense. And despite all these things going in our favor, we manage to lose.

I could go on all day writing, but I guess I have to stop now. I don`t want to see Delio Rossi`s face at least for a couple of days now. He pissed me off.

Latest reports from Formello indicate that Delio Rossi may include Stefano Mauri in midfield instead of Ausmane Dabo, who was initially supposed to start. With Mauri and tridente, the team would be too offensive oriented and they may catch us in the breaks.

Nevertheless, as both Udinese and Napoli lost today, a win in the derby would have a double impact: would send us third on the table just one point shy of Milan and 2 of Inter. We would surpsass Napoli and Juve. The other effect is that the win would send rioma third from bottom.

So, avanti ragazzi and give it a push tonight.

I apoligize for not writing earlier, but as I keep this blog only by my self, I sometimes find it difficult to update it as  I would have wanted.

Nevertheless, tomorrow we have one of the two most important matches in a season for us as Lazio fans: the derby against a club call roma, who happen to share the same city and football ground as we do.

I have been a Lazio fan for quite some time now and I frenkly don`t recall that we enter the first match of the season with already being 14 points ahead of them.

However, given their position in the standings, if we beat them it is sure that they will be in the bottom 3 teams that relegate and will be a massive knock down.

So far it appears that that Delio Rossi will go with tridente, for which I am not condident at all. I would like to see Pandev Zarate and if something goes wrong we field Tommy Rocchi in the second half. But, as usual coach has his own plans and I can only hope that they materialize, especially tomorrow night.

I will for sure write something more regarding line ups tomorrow. Until then, hold on your nerves and pray that we win.

Forza Lazio.

I was inspired to write this blog entry mainly for our new star Mauro Zarate who has started to gain recognition.

In an editorial at Goal.com regarding the Top 10 Serie A signins for the current seasons, Mauro Zarate tops the list, in front of the like of Milito, Amauri, Gilardino, Ronaldinho, Zambrotta etc etc.

Considering the strength of Serie A, as well players arriving each season, just being on this list represents quite an achievement. Let alone standing on spot no.1

The entire list and justifications can be found on this link.

Despite this, Zarate has been included on the team of the week for the last Serie A matchday. However, he is accompanied by our two other players: goalkeeper and his co-patriot JP Carrizo and Swiss newcomer Lichtsteiner. Serie A team of the week can be found here.

So, what else is left to say: avanti Mauro and all other players. The fact that you are getting inlcuded in such lists means that we are being watched carefully and more then any other seasons since post-Cragnotti era.

Match ended moments ago and I failed to watch it as channels at my disposal were showing Inter-Udinese (for obvious reasons of course).

Nevertheless, from what I managed to read first half was a match to forget with Delio Rossi fielding another strange team. Siena was the better side. We managed to win once again through extraordinary Zarate and captain Rocchi who scored a brace after the opener.

Delio Rossi started with the following team: Carrizo; Lichtsteiner, Rozenhal, Siviliga, Kolarov, Dabo, Ledesma, Mauri, Meghni, Foggia and Zarate. In the second half, Rocchi, Brocchi and de Silvestri entered for Meghni, Dabo and Foggia.

For tonight here`s only a shot of Mauro Zarate, courtesty of Gazzetta.it celebrating after his opener. More from me tomorrow.

You can watch the highlights below, though in a bad quality I must admit.

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This Sunday it is Siena`s turn to visit Olimpico. They haven`t been on such a good for until last week when they managed to beat a strong Fiorentina at home. That tells us that we must be carefull and treat them seriously.

Delio Rossi will miss Pandev because of collection of 4 yellow cards. Also, Radu and Brocchi will not be risked as they both need 1 more yellow to miss the next match, which is against rioma. Yesterday, Delio Rossi tried a formation with: Carrizo, Lichtsteiner, Diakite, Rozenhal and Kolarov at the back. Brocchi, Ledesma and Dabo in the middle of the park and Meghni just behind Zarate and Inzaghi. As things stand today, only small changes may be made to this line up. If Inzaghi starts the match, it will be his first since November 2004. Rocchi, Mauri and Foggia have not been felt well during the week and it uncertain whether they will make it or not.

Regardless who plays, we expect to beat Siena at home. There will not be excuses if we fail in doing so.

Avanti ragazzi and prove that we deserve to be where we are.

Well, I don`t blame him actually. It rarelly happens for a rookie in Serie A to have such an immediate imact on the team. It only happened with Kaka, Ibrahimovic and few others in recent years. And then here comes an anonymous kid from an Arab club and suddenly creates havoc for oposition teams.

In case you don`t know the details regarding Zarate`s situation with Lazio, here is the short version: Lotito signed him on loan from 3 mil euros from Al Sad. Also, he obtained a the right to purchase all his right until 30 April 2009. However, it appears that Lotito has no intention to wait until that date but will try to make the move by the end of the year at mos. He will have to pay Al Sad an addition sum of 18 milion euros which in total makes 21 mil euros i.e. making Zarate the most expensive player in post-Cragnotti era. In support of what was said so far goes the visit of Mauro`s brother and manager Sergio who had meetings with Lotito during last week. Mauro will get a pay raise, thus earning some 1.5 mil euros per season. The same amount is expected for Goran Pandev.

This time I am convinced that Lotito is doing the right thing. By tying Zarate and Pandev to long contract he will ensure that we have one of the best attacking duos in Serie A for years to come. Both players are still very young and will without and doubt mature as their career progress.

This seasons it finally happened: I jumped from the sofa when Lazio scored a goal. It is not that I did not cheer when we scored on other matches, but this time it was special: we scored after trying so so hard. Beside scoring a goal, it showed without a doubt that this team really wants to win, they work to win.

Now to leave aside my feelings as a fan and comment the match. Those of you who did not watch the match and read these lines will remain dissapointed, as there is little to comment.  Lazio trying to score for 90 minutes and the other team defending with 10 players and prohibiting Rocchi and Pandev from even touching the ball. The only way for them to have a contact with the ball  was to return some 35 meters away from goal, like Zarate did most of the time. Catania played a miserable game which football was absolutely not.

However, I really have to applaud Mauro Zarate who never gave up trying, passing, shooting, dribbling. And it was only thanks to his fantatic assist that put Foggia in such a position. And thanks Lord he scored.

This was our team: Carrizo: Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozenhal, Radu; Brochi-Ledesma-Mauri; Zarate, Pandev and Rocchi. Meghni, Foggia and Inzaghi came in for Rocchi, Pandev and Brocchi.

More extensive match reports from Goal.com and Channel4 can be found here and here:

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We face Catania this Sunday in much improved psychological state after that win in mid-week away against Chievo Verona. With Foggia and Mauri back after both serving 1 match ban, I doubt Delio Rossi will surprise is as he did against Chievo with that asntonishing line up with Lichtsteiner and Kolarov in midfield.

This is the match I finally expect Tommaso Rocchi to start. It is clear that his condition has improved and I think he can play 60 minutes without problems. Siviglia is a doubt after picking a slight injury while Ledesma is not feeling well either, but nevertheless he is expected to revover in time against Catania.

Elsewhere in the field, I expect on of Mauri and Foggia to start as they are fresher than the others who played against Catania. I would also bench Pandev who played too much recently and rest him for at least a half. I would go for a midfield with something like: Foggia-Ledesma-Dabo-Mauri and Zarate-Rocchi in attack but I doubt this has any chance of happening.

We usualy play better at home and I really think that anything except for 3 points would be a huge surprise, notwithstanding Catania`s great form this season, as they have the same number of points as we do.

What else there is to say, I really hope we score early and than concentrate on counter attacks, rather than suffering too much for an opening goal, thus allowing oponents to hin us on the break (like agains Lecce and Napoli).

By adding 3 points to the current 16, we would achieve a couple of things: we would leave a direct rival behind (Catania) and eventually reach Napoli and Milan who have a direct encounter this week.

Avanti ragazzi and don`t dissapoint.