I just finished watching the extended highlights of England's League Cup Final; I'd forgotten how absolutely terrible the defending is in England.

Like during Manchester United's second goal, mama mia-- that never would have happened in Italy. The central defenders had positioned themselves in the next county! Or what about during Ibrahimovic's winner? Where'd the centerhalves go, out to lunch? Or what about the bad tackling and ball watching during Gabbiadini's wrongfully disallowed goal? And speaking of Gabbiadini, who I remember as kind of a middling Serie A striker, looking like an English football hotshot!

Which brings me around to Lazio; squad values aside-- we'd be practically minnows if transplanted into the cash richPremier League, as-is-- I can't help but think we'd be challenging for the top spots, especially with the squad we have this season.

Lazio are playing the best football of the entire Lotito era right now, both from an anecdotal experience, but also in terms of points. Tactically, the way that we obtain and then keep possession, oftentimes pinning our opponents in their own 18 yard boxes for entire segments of games, is a sight to behold. And points-wise, this is the best total we've had at this stage in a season for something like sixteen years!

And yet, we were dependent on a dubious penalty to take down Udinese today, such is the insane organizational and defensive qualities of Italian sides. But with the kinds of defending you see in other leagues around the world, I can't help but think our constant pressure would create goals in waves.

My biggest conclusion is that what the present squad needs is some kind of creative force in midfield-- because good fundamentals are not good enough in Italy to consistently score goals; you need something totally unorthodox to unlock defenses.