THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

live game feed are suggesting that Cassetti could be dropped, with Henize in the middle and Rosi at right back, which would be an odd decision, I think. Borriello is also pushing for a start in place of Osvaldo.

It also says there's a new pre-game initiative today for the families in the Distinti Nord to get a chance to get some autographs from the players, and each game day different players will go. Todays its Cicinho who is there, which pretty much is all he's good for these days.

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STREAM OPTIONS – Giornate 2 – Roma v Cagliari – 11/9/11

http://www.bet365.com – quality stream, account required.

http://www.atdhenet.tv – Old reliable, always have some listed
http://www.streamhunter.tv– Same, always have some listed
http://209.44.113.146/ – URL for rojadirecta, always have some listed

http://www.calcion.eu – Italian, always have some listed
http://www.asromastreaming.net – Italian, may have Roma game

[RomaShield27]

FORMAZIONI UFFICIALI:

ROMA: Stekelenburg; Rosi, Burdisso, Heinze, Jose Angel; De Rossi, Perrotta, Pjanic; Osvaldo, Totti, Bojan.
A disposizione: Curci, Cassetti, Taddei, Simplicio, Gago, Borini, Borriello. Allenatore: Luis Enrique

CAGLIARI: Agazzi; Pisano, Canini, Astori, Agostini, Biondini, Conti, Nainggolan; Thiago Ribeiro, Nene, Cossu.
A disposizione: Avramov, Perico, Ariaudo, El Kabir, Sampaio, Ekdal, Ibarbo. Allenatore: Ficcadenti

[romawi]

That's a good lineup considering the circumstances. Glad to see Rosi get a start and hopefully he has a good game.

[RomaShield27]

Agreed, nice to see LE showing confidence Rosi in, but Cassetti on the bench is a bit of an odd one. I would have went for him alongside Burdisso rather than Heinze.

5 Italians, 3 Romans, not too bad. 6 new signings.

[maro]

Perhaps Heinze will be playing at left back and Angel in the middle.

[p_maldini_3]

how is heinze in the starting eleven and the disposizione?

handle your shit, jeez.

[RomaShield27]

Thanks, fixed now, Cassetti is on the bench.

[RomaShield27]

Ok first-half. Like its been said all along everyone is going to need patience – but not only does that apply to the tifosi, but the players as well. Its gonna take time for the players to get used to this system. Time for Bojan and Osvaldo to get used to their wider roles then perhaps they're used to, time for Totti to get used to having those two around them, time for the midfielders to know when to make runs forward, the full-backs likewise etc., its all gonna take time. A goal or two would be nice purely to settle the nerves, as we do look a little hesitant and nervy at times. Some decent enough play but they do very much look like a work in progress and a bunch of players who are still getting to know each other.

[Lupa]

Osvaldo is seeing a lot more of the ball than Bojan and it's kind of wasted. I wonder if Borriello could come in for Osvaldo. I know he doesn't really play on the left but he might not lose the ball as often.

[romawi]

I didn't like LE's tactics today. The front three were isolated and had no offensive support from Perrotta or Pjanic.Why not take a risk and ask the two CMs to make runs and attack the space? Had we lost while doing that then fine. You took a risk, it didn't pay off, but at least you tried. This was just terrible. The positive signs were Angel (until he completely fucked up) and DDR for me.

[RomaShield27]

Angle was impressive going forward but its all for nothing if he can't defend. Thats his primary responsibility. He was caught out of position a few times but Cagliari weren't committing the players forward to exploit it, and then the attempt at the header was ridiculous. And a silly red to top it all off. He'll learn, I'm sure, but it like all thing with this team, its going to take time.

Time, time, time. Time for the squad to gel. Time for everyone to learn what the fuck they're meant to be doing. The tifosi may not give them time (although there were no boos at the end of the match, I don't think, some cheers, even?), and the pressure will be huge, but the players simply need time to get used to this system. A lot will fall on LE and how he handles that pressure, though. He has no experience of anything even resembling what it can be like in Roma. How will he manage it?

[RomaShield27]

Conti's goal: http://rutube.ru/tracks/4804954.html?v= ... 5e6fcb46ab

It looks like Angel was trying to head it down to the player at the edge of the box so as to keep possession, but obviously didn't allow for Conti standing about two feet away from him. In that position, he should have just tried to get it as far away from the danger zone as possible.

match review.

Le pagelle – which are going to vary, I feel – from and .

Highlights .

Full-match already in the for download.

EDIT: This pretty much sums it up:

[p_maldini_3]

those purple lined kicks are the shit, no?

[forzaitalia]

Whilst thinking back to Cagliari away last season (I won't mention the score), I've just realised that was 11th September as well? Nightmare.

[RomaShield27]

[AS Collie]

I'm not sure what to say about it yet. I'm disappointed across the board. Angel was great, until that rush of blood. Pjanic was impressive on and off the ball. I thought Heinze was solid, surprisingly so. He did more than Burdisso. If he can still play like that then I'll be happy to have him in the squad. Rosi wasn't bad going forward, but he was totally fuckin lazy tracking back. I don't remember him making one tacle. Perrotta and Bojan were both flops for me.

Osvaldo ... wtf can you say? His positioning was as good as his finishing and touch were bad.

I'm deflated. I was like a kid this morning. Now I'm back to being a grumpy bastard.

[maro]

Perrotta was excellent. He must be the most under-rated player in football.

[Lupa]

Angel on twitter:

Peccato per il risultato di oggi, credo che sia stato completamente ingiusto. Mi spiace per questo inizio di campionato e per la mia espulsione. Forza Roma!

[maro]

Please don't tell me that Perrotta tweets. If he does, I think that may ruin football for me forever.

[AS Collie]

I agree he has always been under-rated, but he was a shadow of himself today. His tackling was ok, he was on the pitch to connect the midfield to the forwards, and he didn't do it. Pjanic did it more, and he doesn't even speak a word of italian yet (he did his half-time interview in english, which was weird).