Cagliari-Lazio. We need a win damn it!!

Yet another week approaches and it is time again to talk about how well Cagliari is playing in the second half of the season(relatively speaking), how important it is to start winning some games, and how we now have one less game to make up points in the relegation fight. Cellino may have quit on his club and its fans, but I have not as of yet. However, it is clear that a real winning streak needs to start very soon.

Unlike past weeks when we caught Palermo in crisis and Parma on a bad streak, we are hitting a Lazio side that thumped Atalanta last week, gets Kolarov back from suspension, seems to think it can make a run for Europe, and that relegation for them is not even slightly possible. If we couldnt get but one point in the two matches against the clubs in crisis, how can we expect to do well against Lazio?

The loss against Palermo was unfortunate and it is clear that with Jeda in the lineup, Foggia playing a full match, and Larrivey nowhere to be found, this team can play mid table level football. The problem is when you have dug such a big hole for yourself in the first half of the season, mid table level football is not enough. Wins at home against teams in the bottom half of the table are a must at this point. This week will tell me a lot about the potential to avoid the drop.

After seeing what Lazio did to Atalanta last week, I wonder if Cagliari can score the necessary goals to win this match. Hopefully Acquafresca starts up front, but if not Matri seems to have some good games at home. We might also see Portugeese youngster Gomes in place of the suspended Conti. He is one for the future but not ready for Serie A yet. Combined with Jeda in an attacking role and Foggia pushing the pace in midfield, wide open football is again in the makings this week. Lazio will no doubt attack and Foggia will want to show the team that co owns him and didnt give him much of a chance that he is good enough to play for them.

As with most soccer matches, especially teams who are in a relegation dogfight, the first goal is huge. If Cagliari can just get the first goal and not give it back so quick, the crowd can urge them to victory. There is nothing better then a Sardinian soccer crowd in a must win match where the team holds its own and wants to win. This isnt a wine and cheese crowd like we see with some of the bigger clubs in Europe who expect to win and whose fans applause seems like its coming as the result of someone holding up a sign telling them to cheer. One of my favorite games was last years must win at home against Roma. You could feel the passion in that crowd. We need more of that. Unfortunately this is a similar game but its just so early to think that way so maybe the crowd wont be as responsive. Lazio will bring it so we better be ready and we need the home crowd.

This game is huge. A win will lead to some added confidence on the road next week against Siena in another must win match. A loss or even a tie will prevent the momentum that is needed to help for next week. We must get 4 points the next two weeks and 6 would be huge. I think the team and the coach know this and will find a way to win this week. We are hanging on by a thread and the occasional draw is just not going to get it done. A loss and I will start talking like Cellino but I will wait until after the Siena match before I start going negative. Hopefully I wont have to do that but reality will set in on all Cagliari fans at some point if we dont step it up. I am looking for the final weeks game against Reggina to mean something.

Prediction Cagliari 2-1

Category: Cagliari, Serie A

Tags: Cagliari, Serie A

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