THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

Never seen the mister get as worked up as this before. Oh how I miss him:

[RomaShield27]

The english media have gotten wind of Baldini joining Roma, with the saying Baldini will meet with the english FA next week to sort out his future. Its expected that he will quit his role with them and official join us after the next round of European qualifiers (in September, I think), but Baldini will discuss the possibility of working as both England's and Roma's General Manager simultaneously until then. He was also in Trigoria yesterday for a meeting with Sabatini and Luis Enrique.

Yesterday was the official presentation of Walter Sabatini joining Roma as Director of Sport. His press conference was over 11 minutes long and can be seen . He certainly appears like a bit of a mad thing: full of confidence and charisma and joking with the media, even whipping out a smoke like he was chilling at home. Its quite a detailed interview in which he answers all sorts of questions. Full transcript of the conference * (with a dodgy english translation ).

We do appear to be building a good managerial team to run the club. At least until our rich foreign sugerdaddy owners decide things aren't goin to plan as they would like and step in and fuck with it all. It remains to be seen what role Bruno Conti will have in the organisation, but theres no question he must be involved.

Coming back to the issue of any potential new arrivals like Bojan upfront, Sabatini's words from his press conference strengthen the idea that both Menez and Vucinic will play an important part of the new regime and will be part of Luis Enrique's plans (although perhaps LE himself hasn't had much of say in such matters as of yet), and so I'm not so sure that we will splash a lot of cash on the likes of Bojan (or Rossi or Sanchez or Pastore, say). Its more probable to be the likes of Lamela and/or Ricky Alvarez – promising, talented and versatile young attacking-midfielders/forwards who can slot into several roles like centre-mid, out wide or as back up for any of the front three. It is a good way to go, I think. We have the talent up front already, we just need to develop what we have and make them key elements of the side. The latest mercato madness is that we're going for Rolando of Porto for around €15m, and perhaps he is the man to attempt to fill the very large boots left behind where once a French King dominated. I've been skeptical and even worried about who we're going to get for the centre of our defence, but I think Rolando would be a good choice. He's a tall, imposing, physical yet graceful defender, he could become an important player for us. He has been linked to all sorts of clubs as well so is quite in demand, but apparently Sabatini is on the case.

Nice from Blogistuta on our surprise managerial appointment.

[forzaitalia]

Linked with Stekelenburg, yes please!

[RomaShield27]

Stekelenburg huh. The mercato madness is starting to pick up again I suppose, with the likes of Stekelenburg, Romero, Ramirez (Bologna), Rolando, Astori, Montoya, and of course Alvarez and Lamela all mentioned. It all a bit tedious, at least until we hear some official news.

Tonight our Primavera side play Varese in the , kick-off at 20.30 (live on Sport Italia). Its a bit of a surprise that our Primavera made it to the final – although its an even bigger surprise that Varese did, too – as we have quite a young and inexperienced side led by Alberto De Rossi, but they are very regarded as a very technical and skillful bunch, so hopefully they'll bring this one home.

PROBABILE FORMAZIONE:
ROMA (4-2-3-1): Pigliacelli; Sabelli, Antei, Mladen, Frascatore; Viviani, Florenzi; Caprari, Ciciretti, Dieme; Montini.

Our side (under-17) also play their final group game today against Napoli.

[Lupa]

We're in for interesting times. If the team gets off to a slow start, how will the club react? I had that fear (being a pessimist) if we hired Ancelotti and started slowly - what then? It will be interesting to see what players we bring in, though, as this is not Barcelona, and not even Barcelona B.

Stekelenburg? Who knows - we certainly could use a new keeper. Oh, and a CB, and LB, RB, and a few other odd bods here and there.

[RomaShield27]

Interesting times indeed, Lupa, for good or for bad. And most of those positions you mention for which we do need new bodies are in defence, and yet we still are being linked more with a host of forward and midfield players, which is confusing.

I say feck it, just drop €50m on Pastore and fill the rest of the positions with our talented primavera side.

[DavidP]

expecting maro's hate because of his mancrush on rosi.

[RomaShield27]

Well, he's more of a right-back than Isla, thats for sure.

[DavidP]

weren't we just discussing this in the shitbox? oh wait, you're too cool to come in there.

anyway, i realize udine played a 3-5-2 for most of this last season, and correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression that he also had played at rb for a good amount of time and done well?

[RomaShield27]

Well, thats why we have threads. It is a forum, after all. To the best of my knowledge Udinese haven't played with a four man defence all season. Guidolin always plays some form of a 3-5-2, and I think he switched it around a bit with a 3-4-3 and a 3-4-1-2, but never with four at the back. Thats not to say Isla couldn't play at right-full for us, of course, its just that he hasn't had much defensive responsibility in his current role and he's perhaps better going forward, something which wouldn't be ideal considering our defence is the area which needs the most work.

[Lupa]

Oh yeah, and the Spalletti vid reminded me of the old days whenever we played Inter in Milan. I'm sure he got about as excited over that.

I miss him too.

[DavidP]

shit. we just conceded in the primavera final. 1-2 down to varese with 7 mins to go

[RomaShield27]

Its finished 2-2, we incredibly equalised in the fourth minute of stoppages, so now its going to extra-time. Stream .

[RomaShield27]

La Roma Campioni d'Italia Primavera!

Match reports here:
http://www.romanews.eu/2011/06/12/final ... -pre-gara/
http://forzaroma.info/roma-primavera/45 ... ciali.html

Post game interviews here:
http://www.romanews.eu/2011/06/12/final ... i-ragazzi/

Pics here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 4367565893

I'm sure there'll be videos of it available for download later.

Mattia Montini, 19-year-old striker, with a hat-trick. He's perhaps one of the lessor lights of our primavera – I don't think he's made his senior debut for us yet, but great performance from him. 12 goals in 17 games in the Primavera campionato according to . I'm not sure he even has a professional contract with us, but he may after tonight.

[Lupa]

[DavidP]

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1618520965

I say we add him before he becomes the next Totti so we can show off later...

[RomaShield27]

[maro]

Yay. Great game. Great occasion. Makes me proud to be a Romanista. Nice to see Bruno in there pinching the lads' asses after the game.

[forzaitalia]

[RomaShield27]

Sabatini met with Vucinic's agent to convince him that he is wanted at Roma. It says the situation is delicate because at the end of the season a group of fans personally insulted his wife and damaged her car, so its a case of him not being able to continue to live in Rome. He was even booed after he scored against Samp, and it points out that even in such a poor season by his standards he still scored 11 goals, which isn't too shabby when you think of it. As much as the Romanisti are a passionate bunch, sometimes the stupidity levels equal the good. Talk about the mob being fickle. How many players underperformed this past season? We could nearly list them all, senza Il Capitano, its been that bad. Mirko still has a large part to play for Luis Enrique's (4-3-3) Roma, and even though he's been frustrating and out of sorts (while still scoring 11 times), its fucking ridiculous how people wish he'd leave after one below-par season.