Serie A Preview: Lazio

It is easy to write off Lazio and their frugal president Claudio Lotito but for all their lack of activity, it seems that they have put together quite a useful squad.

Lotito never fails to irritate yet his steadfast stand against paying too much for players – both in transfers and in wages – is to be admired especially in a league where everyone seems to be doing the opposite. This has cost him Valon Behrami, who opted to move to West Ham, and could see Lazio lose out on Cristian Ledesma who is threatening to follow a similar path at the end of the season.

This doesn’t help foster stability, and neither does the fans’ continuing criticism of Lotito, yet regardless of all this manager Delio Rossi has done quite well in the past. This could be Rossi’s final season in charge but he’s been handed the most complete squad for quite some time so has the perfect opportunity to go out with a bang.

At long last, Lazio have solved their chronic problem in goal by brining in the Argentine Juan Pablo Carrizo who is already looking like a solid choice whilst Behrami has been replaced by his Swiss team-mate Stephan Lichtsteiner. With Matuzalem offering more fluidity in midfield and Mauro Zarate a viable alternative to Tommaso Rocchi and Goran Pandev, Lazio have strengthened in every department.

Key Man: Much of Lazio’s fortunes over the past couple of years have depended on Goran Pandev and his partner up front Tommaso Rocchi and, for all the new additions, not much has changed in that respect this season.

Best bit of business: But for a farcical problem with his passport, Juan Pablo Carrizo would have been a Lazio player last season. However, a further season at River Plate under Diego Simeone – who is already being mentioned as the long term successor of Delio Rossi – and a title win has helped his development.

Keep an eye out for…Lorenzo De Silvestri. After the hype of the previous season, De Silvestri seemed to lose his way last year but the young central defender remains a huge talent with comparisons to Alessandro Nesta more than justified.

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