THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[Lupa]

Yes, perhaps DDR would fit in midfield. I thought he was better than his partner in central defense, though.

[RomaShield27]

[DCGweez]

5 goals and our 3 rivals get 1 point in total....not a bad days work.

[AS Collie]

[romaromaroma]

Intersting

[AS Collie]

Very. I've been saying to my mates here that these few weeks are crucial. And I can't believe all the Lazio/Napoli/Udinese slip-ups. It almost seems scripted to give us a chance. I think the Champions League might be a stretch, but Europa would be good, and with more players no doubt on the way this summer, it would give us a good outlet through which to use the whole squad. And maybe even, you know, actually win something.

[maro]

Well, Nazio have been on the verge of self-desructing since January, Napoli are almost completely out of steam, and Udinese have been over-performing without quite the same quality they had to bail them out last season. You could mount a pretty strong case that it's an indictment of the inconsistencies of Roma and Sphincter that the two clubs are playing catch-up rather than being out on their own in a straight head-to-head for third.

[DCGweez]

Roma are not as good a group of individuals as Udi or Napoli. Napoli are a spent force (temporarily). Inter are a spent force (permanently). Lazio are solid if unspectacular but who's players are all vets and until recently showed up each game.

I throw out games like this as Novara are a horrific team. I'm speaking pan European bad, not Serie A bad.

But they aren't that much worse than Slovan Bratislava I suppose.

One thing is certain, Kjaer is awful. I don't care if his buyout is 8 million lira rather than Euro I don't want him.

[AS Collie]

[DCGweez]

Collie were you in the curva? Seemed to me a really loud crowd. Also that explosion was unbelievably loud. What was that?

[AS Collie]

It's like a really big firework, or a small bomb, depending on how you view it! They're getting bolder with those things in recent weeks, and I notice that some cretin with a particularly good throwing arm has begun to attend. He very nearly hit the goal net with a flare.

The crowd was great, everyone was in a great mood. I think the weather had a positive impact on that, too.

[DCGweez]

Yeah the flare was shown burning a hole in the advert near the goal.

[AS Collie]

That's the guy. I've no time for that shit. I mean, there's ball boys and camera men down there.

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

Ah, just seen this, this is what I'm on about:

"Speciale Famiglia" AS Roma: un successo | a success

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

[AS Collie]

The Monte Mario was almost empty from what I could see, but the rest had plenty of bodies. If that was a 50-odd thousand stadium like Juve's or Landsdowne in Dublin, it would have looked full.

I like Kjaer too. I don't know if that makes me some kinda pervert, but I just don't think he's to blame for it all. He's had no consistent partner, he's in a new team, and those around him are making plenty of mistakes too. I'd deffo give him another chance, but alongside the uber-CB we buy in the summer. Who would you like that to be, by the way?

Erik Pieters looks ok, but I've only seen him a few times. Might be nice for Stek to have a pal. Or Hummels and Subotić are pretty awesome, too, and they're both young.

[RomaShield27]

Jasus, I've no idea. That Belgian centre-half from Ajax has been mentioned, he's their captain... Jan Vertonghen (had to google his name). I haven't' seen much of him but he's meant to be a beast, can play at defensive-midfield too which could suit our system. Lot of clubs like him though and he'd be pricey.

I'd take a punt on Ogbonna. Like Kjaer he's not quite the finished article himself but he's good and its a plus that he's an Italian and in the Azzurri squad. Don't know Erik Pieters I have to say. Hummels and Subotić look very good, yeh defo, particularly the latter. If we are going to splash some cash in the summer like its being said, it needs to be on a defender (if I see another Guisseppe Rossi rumour I'll go bananas, we don't need another forward, plus I think he's a little over-rated), but I have a niggling suspicion that we won't look to buy another centre-half at all outside of Kjaer, which is worrying.

[AS Collie]

Very worrying. I love Juan, but with the injuries and the fact that he ain't getting any younger, we can't rely on him. Who knows about Burdisso. Even if he comes back ok and can play in this system (I was not convinced of this before his injury), we can't be happy with him, Kjaer and Heinze. We need a rock at the back, who starts every game and always plays well. That'll cost, but so do all these forwards.

[romaromaroma]

I dont think ogbonna is good choice, much like Kjaer.
I think you can survive by playing young players in midfield & offensive departments.BUT in defence and goalkeeping you need experience.
I want us to go after establishedd players in defence, much like we did when we bought Juan from leverkusen.

[DCGweez]

I wanted Kjaer, was happy we got him but 8 mill is a lot when Vert or someone like that seems safer and would only cost twice that. He's not trust worthy and frankly if LE is gonna be kept then CB should be the premium position. That is not where we should cut corners. Physical gifts are one thing. That guy is the human red card. He's getting turned around by Novara forwards and needlessly fouling on accident saved by phantom offsides.

Seems like a nice kid, nothing personal. But some people are remembering his play for a team of 2 years ago. He seems to regress.