THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

– Thursday 9 June, 2011

The tiki-taka, rondo and more, Scott Fleming reveals what Luis Enrique has to offer Roma. Is his appointment a gamble or an inspired move? One thing Roma can’t be accused of is a lack of imagination. Whilst the rest of Serie A is engaged in a game of ‘swap the Coach’, recycling the likes of Stefano Pioli, Pierpaolo Bisoli and Marco Giampaolo, La Magica have thought outside the box, plucking Luis Enrique from Barcelona B.

So, is hiring the former Spain international a risk or an inspired move? Perhaps it’s both. For those Giallorossi fans that bought into the Carlo Ancelotti and Andres Villas Boas speculation, that thought Thomas Di Benedetto’s big money takeover would precipitate a big name appointment, it will be something of an anti climax to see Enrique arrive at Trigoria. He is, after all, a 41-year-old who has never coached at senior level in Italy or elsewhere, whose only prior experience is with a B team.

Then again, Barcelona B isn’t any old B team. It was there that Pep Guardiola honed his craft, and in the three years since he left the ‘Mini Estadi’ he’s collected 10 trophies and masterminded the rise of what many consider the greatest club side in football history. Of course, moving to a new club in a new country is more complicated than simply moving across the road like Guardiola did. The Eternal City has its own unique football culture, where newcomers are intensely scrutinised by media and tifosi alike. However, it shouldn’t hold any fears for a man who has in the past transferred directly from Real Madrid to Barcelona.

Enrique will bring with him the tiki-taka, the short passing game that underpins Barca’s philosophy, the rondo, a version of piggy in the middle that teaches young players the importance of ball retention, and some of his favourite pupils from Barcelona B, with Jeffren, Oriol Romeu, Martin Montoya and Jonathan Soriano all linked with moves to Rome. Jeffren, the young Venezuelan who put the cherry on the top of Barca’s famous 5-0 win over Real last November, might be the only recognisable name, but Romeu and Montoya are very highly regarded youngsters and Soriano is a 25-year-old forward whose remarkable 32 goal haul earned him the Segunda Division’s Pichichi award last season.

The Gijon native has already outlined his philosophy with great gusto. “I practice attacking football, a spectacular brand designed to entertain and attract people to the stadium. People still don’t know me in Italy, but I’ll erase the doubts and at the end of the season we will look at the facts.” Is it possible to import an ideology though? Barcelona isn’t just Guardiola or Leo Messi, it’s La Masia, Barcelona B and much more. Can Roma hope to construct their own super power simply by removing one cog from the Blaugrana’s war machine? Time will tell.

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In other news, Montella has already got himself a new job and has been confirmed as the new . Its good to see him get a shot a smaller club where he will be able to express himself as a manager and show what he can offer, and then hopefully one day he can come back to us.

[AlCapone]

Are you working towards next season?
Sabatini: "It would be meaningless to work towards last season."

You've got to love him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah0dGG_IOxs

[forzaitalia]

Very surprised about Montella going to Catania!

[maro]

I don't know about Bojan, red. I really don't know - that he's not quite made it tells you a lot and other players who've not quite made it at Barca (Dos Santos, for notable example or, from an older generation, Gabri) have gone on to bomb elsewhere. On the other hand, I do think he's exactly the sort of player who would fit the bill for that small, hard-working player, who's quick, will attack space, and be 'busy' that one of those pieces suggested was the imagined partner for Totti. And then players like Arteta and Motta haven't done so badly after not making the grade at Barca. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Bojan is found out when he leaves Barca; I wouldn't be all that surprised, though, if it were the making of him as a player as he toughened up mentally with more responsibility and away from his comfort-zone.

[romawi]

Bojan is still 20 years old isn't he? I think he would be a great fit for Roma for the reasons you suggested, Tom.

[vtec]

tuna, do you ever get tired of being the 6 to maro's 9?

[RomaShield27]

Never really been a big fan of Bojan myself, always saw him as one of the batch of promising young players who came through the Barca system but never really delivered on that promise. That is why Barca are looking at Sanchez and Rossi, no, to get someone to add to thief forward line, and the feeling that Bojan isn't quite up to it has been apparent for a while. I think there are better options available, not to mention other positions which need some attention first.

[maro]

I'm almost certain Bojan would be a better buy for us than Rossi would be.

[RomaShield27]

Really? That's a big claim, what makes you so certain? With both Menez and Vooch looking likely to stay I'm not sure we need one of them and would be better served with an attacking mid like Lamela, say. (on iPhone so quick posts)

[arthurfonzarelli]

From the offside, an absolute gem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFHcUq1xawM

[maro]

Because Bojan is, I think, naturally a prima punta (of the Michael Owen type, if you will), rather than a second forward. We need players who will attack space rather more than players who like to get on the ball. This has been the problem with Menez and Vooch.

[romawi]

[maro]

[maro]

[arthurfonzarelli]

[maro]

Yes, that was pretty good too. This piece is interesting in a kind of vacuously speculative way:
http://www.forzaroma.info/news-as-roma/ ... tieri.html
If we do play 4-3-2-1 then Menez is a much more natural fit than Vooch.

[maro]

Ah, this one says something rather different:
http://www.romanews.eu/2011/06/10/sabat ... e-restino/

[DavidP]

[maro]

We might struggle for profondita'.

[forzaitalia]

From goal.com:

New Roma coach Luis Enrique refused to make any promises at his official presentation, but is eager to bring excitement and joy to the club's fans.

The former Spain international will assume the position left vacant by caretaker Vincenzo Montella, having his first big opportunity after coaching Barcelona's B squad in the last three years.

At his official presentation, Luis Enrique spoke on behalf of his coaching staff, telling Roma Channel: "Promises? Few. I would like to greet all the viewers and all the fans.

"We are very excited and we want to be part of the club. The club have given a signal by signing a young and Spanish coach.

"It is the first year in which will we work at a club like this. We are here to make the fans excited and happy.

"I hope I will achieve many goals here, at Roma. Forza Roma."

Roma finished sixth in Serie last season, which earned them a spot at the Europa League play-off round.