With Kenneth Taylor, Tijjani Noslin and Josip Sutalo playing key roles, SS Lazio have made a fantastic start to the season. Thanks to the Dutch players and the Ajax loanee, the Biancocelesti are even top of Serie A. VoetbalPrimeur discusses the Roman side’s success with Tommaso Fefè, who covers the club closely for Radio Olympia. Taylor and Noslin were joined by Sutalo at the Stadio Olimpico this summer. Lazio have signed the Croatian defender on loan from Ajax, where he never quite managed to live up to expectations. In the Italian capital, however, he has made a strong start. “Personally, I never doubted that he could be a reliable player. He has a wealth of experience, including with his national team, and he’s already proving to be a key figure, even though he’s only just arrived,” Fefè told VoetbalPrimeur. Unlike at Ajax, Lazio supporters are also enthusiastic about the qualities of the 26-year-old Sutalo. “Lazio fans are very pleased with his performances. At Ajax, he probably suffered from the fact that the club was going through a period which – by its own historical standards – wasn’t exactly brilliant,” says the reporter from Radio Olympia, a sports station in Rome. Sutalo initially started on the bench, but he benefited from the absence of Danilho Doekhi, another of Lazio’s summer signings. “Doekhi was a first-team regular, but then suffered a hand injury, after which Sutalo took his place. Lazio are not playing in European competitions this year and have already been knocked out of the domestic cup, meaning the manager has little opportunity to rotate the squad. If Sutalo continues to perform at this level, there is no reason whatsoever for Gennaro Gattuso to change the pecking order.” According to Fefè, it is clear that Lazio are keen to keep Sutalo. The Romans are currently on loan for around three million euros, but hold an option to buy for 7.5 million. “From a sporting perspective, there is no doubt about it: given his current form, the club would like to sign him on a permanent basis. The issue, however, is financial in nature. It remains to be seen whether Lazio will face restrictions in the transfer market at the end of the year – because certain budgetary targets may not have been met – and, moreover, whether sufficient funds will be available to complete the permanent transfer,” the Italian journalist cautions. At Lazio, Sutalo was reunited with his former Ajax team-mate Taylor, who is a key player in Rome. “Taylor immediately made an excellent impression on the Biancocelesti. Even in his first few matches last winter – shortly after his arrival in January – it was clear that he is a talented midfielder, and above all a player with a lot of personality. This year, under Gattuso, he is playing in a slightly deeper role compared to last season under Sarri, but he remains an indispensable pillar of the team’s balance.” Thanks to his strong performances, Taylor (24) has already been tentatively linked with a transfer. English clubs in particular are said to be showing interest in the midfielder, who opened the scoring against Parma (2–1) just last weekend. “Lazio would prefer not to let anyone go in January. It would take a very substantial offer to convince the club to enter into negotiations,” emphasises Fefè. “There are several suitors in the Premier League – including some top clubs – but as far as I know, Lazio have not yet received any official enquiries. However, should the player continue to perform at this level, the situation could look very different by next summer.” Noslin, too, has become a key figure in Gattuso’s team, although this has gone somewhat under the radar in the Netherlands. “It took Noslin some time to find his feet. He joined from Hellas Verona two years ago for a substantial fee (around 16 million in total, including bonuses), but it is only since the start of this season, under Gattuso, that he has found the consistent form that had eluded him in the two years prior.” Remarkably, the 27-year-old former Fortuna Sittard player has been playing up front since the start of this season. ‘The manager has – better than his two predecessors – figured out how to fit the player tactically into the team’s attacking patterns. He possesses impressive physical attributes and runs a lot to create space for his teammates; Gattuso rates him very highly for this.’ Noslin repaid that trust with two goals and two assists in seven Serie A matches. Thanks in part to Sutalo, Taylor and Noslin, things are going well for Lazio in Serie A at the moment. The Romans are joint top of the table with Internazionale. Fefè, however, makes no mention of any title hopes. “Personally, I think Lazio can remain in the running for a place in the upper half of the table right until the end, and might even qualify for European football next season. Back in August, we were all still sceptical about the coming season; the squad hadn’t been strengthened sufficiently and Gattuso himself was coming off the back of a spell with rather disappointing results as manager.” What’s more, the first official match resulted in an immediate cup exit. “After the defeat against Serie B side Mantova in the Coppa Italia, morale had hit an absolute low,” recalls the local radio club correspondent. “But the arrival of Frattesi, Gudmundsson, Pinamonti and Sutalo – combined with a surprisingly strong start – has completely turned those initial expectations on their head. Now every supporter is hoping this winning run will last as long as possible.” Whether Gattuso’s current squad is capable of repeating the success of 2000 remains to be seen. Back then, a team featuring, amongst others, Alessandro Nesta, Diego Simeone, Pavel Nedved, Juan Sebastián Verón, Sergio Conceição and Siniša Mihajlović won the Scudetto for the second – and so far last – time in the club’s history. Lazio are back in action on Tuesday evening. Gattuso’s side will then travel to face Sassuolo.   submitted by   /u/Roller95 [link]   [comments]