A fortnight to get it right

Two weeks; that is all the time that lies between Lazio and difficult first matchday opponents, Sampdoria. In those two weeks, coach Edy Reja is faced with a most difficult task as he seeks to get his boys ready for the new season. Physically, they look just about there but in terms of the tactical and the technical, much work remains to be done.

The biancocelesti faced a Spanish inquisition this week as Racing Santander and then Levante posed various questions in the field of play. Against the former, the team had no answers, succumbing to an embarrassing 3-1 defeat in front of a modest crowd. However, the questions were answered adequately against the latter as the scoreline was reversed in Lazio's favour.

The tifosi witnessed two very different games characterised by two very different formations. The 4-3-1-2, which has presumably been tried to accomodate Hernanes is a work in progress at best. The more familiar 3-5-2 proved fruitful and with the clock to the new Serie A season ticking heartily, it would be a surprise to see a radical change in tactics through the coming weeks.

However, we might yet see a radical change in personnel. In a videogame where all primary objectives are completed, it is often the secondary missions that are found to be the most rewarding and the same could be said for Lazio at present. Both president Lotito and Reja are satisfied with their work in the mercato thus far but the signature of Hugo Almeida would be the icing on the cake.

Negotiations are said to be taking place with Werder Bremen for the Portuguese forward although there has been no apparent shift in the figures that were previously mentioned. Other strikers have been linked with a move to Lazio such as Bursaspor's marksman, Turgay Bahadir and veteran journeyman and Euro 2004 winner, Angelos Charisteas but the interest in them appears to have petered out in recent days, leaving Almeida as the sole candidate for a move.

The greatest concern to laziali at the moment may be keeping hold of Cristian Ledesma. It has been speculated that one final offer has been placed on the metaphorical table and it is at the Argentine's discretion to accept or face a possible departure. Whether or not he could be sold prior to the closing of the transfer window is a topic up for debate but with all the giants in Italy expected to show an interest, one would have to fear the worst.

Attention now turns to the second coming of Hernanes. The Brazilian maestro touched down in Rome during the week looking rather dapper in a flashy suit and we all hope he will dazzle just as much when he makes his on-field debut. His date with destiny  is currently set for August 22nd and the occasion should be a friendly tie against Deportivo La Coruña.