Lazio hit the heights while Roma wait in the wings
It's taken a long time but, at 65, the Lazio coach Edoardo Reja - almost universally known as Edy - has finally reached the summit of Italian football.
During his varied coaching career of almost 30 years, which has seen him take charge at 21 different clubs, he's tasted modest success in the lower divisions but few would seriously have expected him to have guided a team to the top of Serie A, especially the perennial under-achievers of Italian football.
Brescia and Vicenza both won Serie B under his guidance while he took Napoli from Serie C to Europe during a five-year spell at Diego Maradona's former club.
However, although many Italian football fans still have the sensation that their eyes are deceiving them, the statistics are not lying.
Lazio are four points clear at the top of Serie A after their 1-0 win at Palermo last Sunday, their fourth away win in a row, while Milan were overtaken by Rafa Benitez's Inter for second place after the former went down 2-1 at home to fellow Italian giants Juventus.
Remarkably, Reja was only expected to be a stop-gap solution at Lazio after taking over in February, one of the few feasible options available at that time of the year, but Lazio president Claudio Lotito decided to keep faith with the man who only managed to guarantee their survival late in the season and who could have started collecting his state pension and other associated benefits last month.
So just what has Reja done to convert last season's strugglers into contenders for the Scudetto, which Lazio have only won twice before, in 1974 and 2000?
Mainly, it's the fact that his midfield has stepped up a gear.
Christian Ledesma has resolved the contract problems which were clearly a huge distraction last year, with Inter and Juventus apparently among those that were interested in the Argentine, and pledged his immediate future to Lazio just before the start of the season.
With Ledesma happy and back to the form he showed consistently in the three seasons after his arrival in 2006, Lazio look a completely different side to the one of the last campaign.
Reja was only expected to be a stop-gap solution at Lazio. Photo: Reuters
Fellow midfielder Stefano Mauri has also rediscovered his sharpness and skills of several seasons ago and earned a full deserved recall to the Italian international side.
Ledesma and Mauri have also been considerably helped by the arrival of their Brazilian counterpart Hernanes.
The controversial Lotito - noted among the Italian media and even the club's own fans for overstating Lazio's claims to greatness - spent most of the £15m they received from Manchester City for Aleksandar Kolarov in signing Hernanes from Sao Paulo.
It's fair to say that more than a few people were wondering about the wisdom of such an acquisition, a feeling initially compounded during the pre-season by the fact that Reja was playing him much further up the field than expected, but it has proved to an inspired move.
"Our campaign is surprising everyone. We ourselves did not expect that we'd be at the top at this stage of the championship," Hernanes told Italian media earlier this week.
"Upon arriving I had many difficulties, since I had to change the way I played. I've always been a defensive midfielder, but now I'm happy with my role. In Italy, I am becoming a complete player,"
The men up front, Mauro Zarate Sergio Floccari and Tommaso Rocchi, have not been as prolific as I am sure Reja would ideally like them to be but for the moment the midfield - with Hernanes playing a role similar to his compatriot Kaka and working just behind whoever are the two front men - has been covering their shortfall.
It also can't be denied that another factor could be the fact that there is no European football for Lazio to think about after last year's disappointing campaign.
Inter, Milan, Juve and even Lazio's local rivals Roma, who they face in the local derby on Sunday, all have their eyes on success in Europe, whether it's in the Champions League or Europa League.
By contrast, Reja can sit back, relax, and plot the downfall of Roma while his players recover from their week-in, week-out, exertions in Serie A.
The Lazio fans, and possibly the players, may hate the fact that their team are absent from Europe but perversely it has probably done them plenty of favours on the domestic front, as the consensus of opinion is that their squad doesn't have the strength in depth of the other teams challenging immediately behind them.
If Lazio can beat Roma at home on Sunday, a few more people are likely to take their championships ambitions a bit more seriously.
Adding to Reja's likely sense of optimism that things are going his way is that Roma are missing their captain Francisco Totti, who was sent off against Lecce last weekend for slapping an opponent.
"For me, it's better if Totti doesn't play," said Reja, knowing full well the influence that Totti can have on proceedings as Roma's all-time top goalscorer and on-field leader.
Despite good evidence that time is starting to take its toll on the 34-year-old Totti, who has still not scored a goal in Serie A this season, Roma without him are still a less threatening force.
"We want to win the derby because our fans want to and they deserve it too," said Zarate on Monday. "Scudetto? We won't talk about this because we are living by the day."
The big question, perhaps the only question, is whether Lazio's day-by-day approach will be sufficient for them to still be at the top by the third weekend in May
Many people have their doubts about Lazio's staying power but, with no side yet looking like they are going to dominate Serie A this year, Lazio might just have as good a chance as they have done for a very, very, long time.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~12~RS~)
Hi, I'm Phil Minshull. I've lived in Spain since 1997 and covered Spanish football since the first day I got here. My blog aims to provide some insight into what's happening in La Liga, and there is much more to it than only Real and Barcelona, as well as elsewhere around Europe.
© 2012
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It's good to see Lazio back and doing well. I remember the team they had in the late 90's early 00's. Salas, Stam, Veron. They have been paying for that team for the last ten years! Oh and Igor Protti. Legend.
http://inofftheghost.wordpress.com/
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I read a stat that last time Lazio were top of the league when they faced Roma they ended up winning serie A.
Very happy to see them there (despite their fans), Serie A is open at last.
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Edy Reja did a superlative job when he was in charge at Napoli. Guiding the beleagured club from the depths of serie C1 right back into the top flight. In his first season he even managed to guide the azzurri to an Intertoto spot.
He amazingly raised old levels of expectation at the San Paolo that hadnt been felt for many years. An unfortunate run of results in the 2nd half of the following season finally saw Reja lose his job.
Whilst Napoli and Lazio are traditional foes, I'd like to see Reja succeed here. There are certain parallels already presenting themselves but hopefully not the 2nd half of the season collapse which inevitably cost him his job with the partenopei.
The signing of Hernanes has been an inspiration so far for the biancocelesti. And hopefully both Lazio and Napoli can maintain a challenge at the top of serie A to keep the title race considerably more open than in previous years.
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@ 1 .. Igor Protti :-) one fantastic year at Bari and then the Lazio move !! brilliant mention, back in them mid-late 90's you would always get a forward have a great season at a small club then get the move and be rubbish !! Igor Protti, Maurizio Ganz, Simone Inzaghi, Dario Hubner..
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Hubner never got a move to a bigger club.
And his only poor season was with a dreadful Ancona side but apart from that aberration he scored goals for fun at every level, and always with provincial sides.
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Agree, Hubner never got the chance his goals deserved, Ganz forged a pretty impressive career as well, playing for both Inter and AC Milan, scoring vital goals for their 1999 ridiculous comeback and victory of Serie A, against Lazio
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Didn't think much of Mauri before this season but has looked really effective this season
Vucinic is Roma's main threat these days, imo, especially when he isn't played in a makeshift role on the wing. Totti has been really good in Serie in the past decade but this season he hasn't played great apart from one good half against Genoa. So maybe its a good thing Totti will miss the game for Roma as it will free up Vucinic
Funnily enough, Totti threw a hissy fit when getting subbed against Inter this season. He was replaced by Vucinic, who went on to score the winner (as well as doing a looney celebration to what i think was in response to the poor example set by captain Totti when getting subbed)!
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#4
Yeah, but remove Hubner, that guy scored bundles for years.
Add to your list marco di vaio, pippo maniero.
Stam, Veron and Protti never played together in the same team did they?
I rememeber earlier on when Signori guarenteed almost a goal a gme for the club. And the emergence of the gentleman Nesta.
Does anyone remember Fiore - he was good at one point.
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'Does anyone remember Fiore - he was good at one point.'
He faded badly didn't he
I remember him having a two or three good seasons but sort of disappeared from the radar
Mendieta added to the list of Spanish players, inc. the likes of De La Pena, that flop in Serie A. So it made sense for karma that the likes of Di Vaio and Fiore added to the list of Italian players that flopped in La Liga!
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#8
To be fair to Marco di Vaio though, after flopping at Juve and Valencia, he did manage to have a great season with Bologna at 32, scoring almost 25 Serie A goals.
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I guess not every Italian striker can be as explosive as Vieri was in La Liga.
Still remember the shock when i first heard Vieri do a interview in English.....that Australian accent!
Not easy for Italians (in La Liga) and Spaniards (in Serie A)
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Nice work Phil and thanks for the heads up for the big derby on Sunday, knew there was a reason for my tenner a month ESPN subscription.
I seem to remember Gazza doing well in these games including a very late headed(?) equalizer/winning goal???
http://scottssportsandsocial.blogspot.com/
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It's nice to see Lazio get recognition for their brilliant form. The lazio first team is pretty good even though it's largely the same as the one that flirted with relegation with the exception of the marvelous Hernanes. The thing that has made the difference this year has been the togetherness of the squad, there has been no discontent to be heard from the dressing room, no contract disputes or scandals; for this the credit must go to the coach and to Lotito, because although I despise him he has shown he can learn from his mistakes and has toned his persona a little down.
Nonetheless the team is indisputably good, a top 6 team definitely.
Muslera has been a revelation since coming back from conceding 4 awful goals to AC Milan 3 years ago and is showing himself to be an excellent goalkeeper, though prone to some costly lapses of concentration.
The full backs have both been chased by Juventus and are both regular internationals.
The centre defence partnership between Andre Dias and Biava has arguably been the best in the league this season.
The midfield comprised of Ledesma, wanted by Juventus and Inter, the tireless Brocchi, formerly of Milan and Inter, the surprising Mauri, who seems reborn this year, and Hernanes, is well balanced technically gifted.arate, formerly of Birmingham is a wonderful talent but now is asked to do more tracking back by the coach; Floccari meanwhile is one of the most underrated strikers of the Serie A, providing good link up play, hassling defences and keeping the ball up well, as well as providing a goal every other game since he joined Lazio last January.
Although I doubt they can be real title challengers this year, you can always dream...
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'knew there was a reason for my tenner a month ESPN subscription. '
Was Fiorentina v Catania on ESPN? That was really boring game!
Fiorentina are toothless without Jovetic and Vargas. Only remotely interesting thing about that game was Mutu, as it was his first game back from yet another long term ban
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I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Pavel Nedvěd as part of the strong Lazio outfit of the late 90's up to 2000...
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'I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Pavel Nedvěd as part of the strong Lazio outfit of the late 90's up to 2000...'
Lazio had too many good players!
I thought Sergio Conceicao was brilliant for Lazio. He really should've made more of his talent.
Not really a fan of the current version of Stankovic, he was better at Lazio, imo
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#14 - I agree, I meant I was ready to bag ESPN - they only show 2/3 EPL games per month and their European football is not always the most appealing or entertaining but I'll give it another couple of weeks. To be fair, I bet some of the games they do show but I don't watch, end up being belters. Plus, they have the Derby della Madonnina next Sunday and people tell me that the Bundesliga is worth checking out???
I have always been intrigued with Italian football but I think that lies mainly with the tradition and culture, rather than the entertainment on offer.
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Great Blog Phil, being Italian myself i always enjoy reading the rare articles that are written about Serie A........(could we have a bit more Sampdoria please)
Mauro Zarate is a great player and im suprised he hasnt been on the radar from a few more europen clubs, he seem settled at lazio now though and playing well.
Lazio have always been considered a fairly big team in Italy and for many seasons I could never understand why. I have seen them play many times and never been that impressed, but this season they look a different team...together and playing well.
I knew it would take some time but Serie A is finally finding its feet again after the 'scandals' broke and i couldnt be happier, it wil be a few more years yet but soon we will be back up there attracting the top players again.
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Agree on Hubner, not a pretty player to watch but effective. On a similar note it's nice to see Soldado getting the opportunity to play Champions League football for a top club like Valencia having been consistently good in front of goal for years.
Hernanes looks a quality player with vision and superb touch, in fact the one thing I've noticed more than anything else is that he seems to weight every pass perfectly. Reja is brilliant as well, an engaging speaker and a fantastic track record, he's produced many good ball playing sides.
Agree with #10 on Di Vaio, has had a few good years.
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tomefccam
Signori
great shout :)
Fiore is still playing for Cosenza (Italian 3rd Tier) aged 35 the man has had a mountain of clubs!probably at his best at Udinese in the late 90's before moving to Lazio. he was great under Mancini at Lazio too. He had to leave lazio though as thy had no money!
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Ahh the good old days ! I remember watching Football Italia Sunday on Channel 4 and then recording Mezzanote later on to watch the next day. Some absolute classics from back in the day. Always remember when a young Alessandro Nesta nailed Gazza in training and wrecked his knee.
Lazio used to be have a cracking team back in the 90's with the likes of Signori, Casiraghi, Mancini, Boksic, Marchegiani...feeling old now !! On a seperate note does anyone remember the classic Sampdoria 3-2 AC Milan , Milan 2-0 and cruising before a Lombardo inspired comeback with Gullit getting the winner? Brilliant !
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Talking of Nesta & Lazio......
Remember the Beeb documentary where the Irriducibili paid the Lazio training ground a visit and called a meeting with Nesta to explain the derby defeat.
Just cant see the likes of that ever happening over here.
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#17
The Bundesliga is definitely worth checking out. Just like Lazio, it is great to see Dortmund top of the pile in Germany.
Really liking the Dortmund player Shinji Kagawa - a real exciting talent, and they only picked him up for a few hundred thousand or so in the summer - bargain!
Back to Lazio - if they can get there current crop of forwards playing like the forwards of '00, Salas, Mancini, Ravanelli and my personal favourite; Alen Boksic, then they will definitely keep it going!
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DirkDiddler
you mean the greatest game of all time??? :)
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Hope that Lazio forgive you for the BBC kiss of death, following on from their 'Rafa is reborn at Inter' blog just before their crushing defeat to Spurs!
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Here's hoping that the BBC kiss of death is in full effect this weekend - Forza Roma!
Having watched the full match vs Basle in midweek I'm not exactly confident though!
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I suppose the biggest problem they will have in maintaining their form is their lack of strength in depth. Who is able to come in to replace Hernanes, Mauri and Ledesma should they fall victim to injury? They will most likely need to invest in January, if they're still in the running at that time, of course. Scudetto? I suspect it'll be an Inter win again, though it won't be as straight forward this time around.
Doesn't appear we're seeing any big names emerging from Italy on the striker front right now, so I'm glad someone like Rocchi is doing reasonably well.
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#16 - glad you mentioned Conceicao - what a top player he was under Sven at Lazio. They did have some awesome talent back then: Crespo, Boksic, Marcelo Salas, Vieri, Verón, Stankovic, Nedved, Nesta...and then you even forget about players like Claudio López and Mendieta whose careers went somewhat downhill after moving to Rome. Strange thing about Conceicao was, he went to Inter and barely got a kick. :-S
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DirkDiddler....
Samp 3-2 Milan, one of the best games ever, it had been pouring down, and Ruud smashed it in and the fans behind the goal went mental with umbrellas going everywhere! Platt was playing I seem to remember. Well worth googleing!
Another memorable game is when Lazio went to Milan in 93 or something, totally unlike any Italian game, it was end to end with the post/bar being hit a nuber of times. Albertini I think gave Milan the lead, eventually after so much Lazio pressure in the 90th min Signori set up Boksic who fired in a equaliser - they went crazy, only For Ruud, back at Milan, to score in the 94th min! The San Siro didnt know what was going on, James Richardson was speechless and Don Howe nearly passed out. Classic.
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Do they show Portuguese games in ESPN?
IF they do you should definitely check Porto-Benfica this weekend. There's so much bad blood between these two its unbelievable.
Last season golf balls were out of stock in the shops before the match because they had been bought by Porto fans to throw at the opposition supporters. Benfica's president came out saying that if the team bus is stoned again in the motorway they will turn back and won't play.
Not to mention that both teams always have some pretty nifty players
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17. At 12:22pm on 05 Nov 2010, Scott John wrote:
Definitely watch Bundesliga. Its probably THE league at the moment.
Its a crazy league. I've watched two games this season and both been good. Been told by a Bundesliga viewer that to be guaranteed a good game, watch Dortmund or Mainz.
Do some quick reading on Mainz, quite a surprise package they are!
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'Strange thing about Conceicao was, he went to Inter and barely got a kick.'
I've watched a few short clips of him at Standard Liege and he was quite impressive in his latter days it seems in Belgium.
Disappointed that he didn't showcase more of his talent at the highest club level, he had the all round package as a winger.
Cristiano Ronaldo 06/07 was very similar to him, in terms of all around winger performances (after 06/07, Ronaldo turned into a narrow-minded goalscoring mean machine).
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It is always a benefit for good teams with small squad to be without Europe as inevitably they suffer in the league or europe
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Roma win 2-0
As predicted, Vucinic was the main man for Roma!
Hernanes was disappointing, Zarate was lively in the second half
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Apologies for chipping in later than usual this week, I was away over the weekend, having few day’s well-deserved (at least in my estimation) holiday.
Ronnie_McFall_And_His_Unfeasibly_Large_Wig: “hopefully both Lazio and Napoli can maintain a challenge at the top of serie A to keep the title race considerably more open than in previous years.” I’d echo that and although Lazio lost yesterday (Sunday) they still have a two point lead and the other results so far this season suggest that all the other potential leading contenders e.g. Inter, Milan and Juventus are struggling to find the form that was anticipated of them. Life has become a lot more interesting this season in Serie A and I definately wouldn’t rule out Lazio’s chance of winning their third Scudetto on the basis of a derby defeat to Roma.
11_giggsy_11: “Mendieta added to the list of Spanish players, including the likes of De La Pena, that flop in Serie A. So it made sense for karma that the likes of Di Vaio and Fiore added to the list of Italian players that flopped in La Liga!” This issue might make a worthy subject for a blog one day (although no guarantees). Last year, I wrote about the failure of British players to prosper abroad, for all the usual stereotypical reasons, but it’s often forgotten that many Spanish and Italian players fail to cross the Mediterranean successfully.
Stoltissimo: “for this the credit must go to the coach and to Lotito, because although I despise him he has shown he can learn from his mistakes and has toned his persona a little down.” Regarding Lotito, I’ve had a few emails about the fact that he’s a much more low profile person this season and the fact that it seems to have taken the pressure off the squad (and the coach). Last year, he seemed to pop up with pronouncements about how the team should play before, after, and sometimes even during matches. Thanks also for adding some deeper analysis on the Lazio players which I didn’t have room for.
Signori: “Mauro Zarate is a great player and I’m surprised he hasn’t been on the radar from a few more European clubs, he seems settled at Lazio now though and playing well.” He’s playing well on a more regularly basis but is still inconsistent and I have the prevailing feeling that he is still not fulfilling his abundant talent.
usedtobefast: “Hope that Lazio forgive you for the BBC kiss of death, following on from their 'Rafa is reborn at Inter' blog just before their crushing defeat to Spurs!” In my defence, that wasn’t my blog but an article written by another writer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9140414.stm
There have certainly been a few teams that have been jinxed after getting mentioned by me, last season’s blog about Bayer Leverkusen and punting that Bayern Munich would be make this season’s Bundesliga boring are a couple that spring to mind.
However, a few people and teams that have managed to avoid being ‘cursed’ by me.
Last year, I believe I was one of the first people to write in English about how Laurent Blanc was likely to become the next French coach and also I blogged about Twente Enschede, who went on to win the Dutch title.
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