THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

Verona 1-3 Roma: Giallorossi Cut Juventus' Lead To Six Points
Sunday, 26 January 2014 13:29 Anthony Wright / http://asroma.co.uk/news/match-reports/ ... six-points

Roma picked up their fifth successive win in all competitions as they saw off the challenge of Hellas Verona with a 3-1 victory in the lunchtime kickoff.

The Giallorossi were moving well up front early on and were finding spaces in and around the Verona defence, and they had their first chance on six minutes when Mattia Destro turned Rafael Marques in the box but only shot straight at Rafael.

After a slightly shaky start, Verona soon started to settle into the game. Both sides pressed effectively and prevented the other from creating any openings, although a poor clearance from Emil Hallfredsson gave Adem Ljajic a chance to get a shot at goal from 20 yards but he sliced his effort off target.

Maicon gave a cheap free kick away on the edge of the box on 26 minutes for pulling Juan Gomez Taleb back, but Juan Iturbe's free kick went straight into the wall. An incisive run from Gervinho nearly set up Destro a few minutes later but he prodded his shot off target under pressure from Domenico Maietta.

It looked like the game would be goalless at half time but in injury time Gervinho accelarated away from the Verona defence before squaring the ball for Ljajic to flick a low shot past Rafael with the outside of his right foot for his fifth goal of the season.

Just a few minutes into the second half though Verona were level; Leandro Castan was caught on the ball by Iturbe who drove into the penalty area before playing it back to Massimo Donati, and the midfielder laid it off for Emil Hallfredsson to fire low into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The Giallorossi tried to respond immediately and after Rafael gathered a Kevin Strootman header, the keeper had to turn an awkward shot from Maicon behind for a corner. Just before the hour a run from Gervinho caused chaos in the Verona penalty area when Romulo failed to clear the ball, but neither Ljajic nor Strootman could fashion an opportunity.

Two minutes later Roma were ahead again though when a long corner came all the way to Gervinho at the back post, and he cut inside to work some space before firing a fierce shot inside the near post. The Ivorian was really causing the Gialloblu problems and could have scored another but Alessandro Florenzi's cross had too much pace on for him to control.

Although Roma were now in control, the home side remained a threat when they were able to go forward and De Sanctis had to parry away a powerful shot from Hallfredsson after the Icelander had evaded a challenge from Daniele De Rossi. It should then have been 3-1 with 10 minutes to go, but after finding space in the penalty area Castan planted a free header off target.

Moments later Vasilis Torosidis won the ball just ahead of Iturbe and was fouled in the penalty area by Alejandro Gonzalez, and Francesco Totti stepped up to fire the spot kick into the bottom right hand corner.

Verona reacted by trying to take a few more shots from distance and De Sanctis had to make a fine reaction save to deny Marques from a 91st minute corner. The Giallorossi countered immediately and nearly scored a fourth but Totti's cross came off the top of the crossbar.

VERONA: Rafael, Gonzalez, Maietta (Donadel), Marques, Cacciatore, Romulo, Donati (Longo), Hallfredsson, Iturbe, Toni, Gomez Taleb (Martinho).

ROMA: De Sanctis, Maicon, Benatia, Castan, Torosidis, Nainggolan (Pjanic), De Rossi, Strootman, Ljajic (Florenzi), Destro (Totti), Gervinho.

[maro]

C’è anche Francesco Totti nella lista pubblicata dalla Fifa sul magazine ‘Weekly’ relativa agli “errori arbitrali più famosi” nella storia del calcio. L’episodio con protagonista il capitano della Roma è collocato al 5/o posto della classifica e fa riferimento a quanto avvenuto nel 2002 in occasione dei Mondiali in Corea del Sud e Giappone. Nella partita degli ottavi di finale contro i coreani, l’arbitro Byron Moreno “prima di tutto ha annullato un gol valido all’Italia (segnato dall’ex romanista Tommasi, ndr) e poi ha espulso Francesco Totti per una presunta simulazione”. Dopo il rosso per simulazione al n.10 l’Italia di Trapattoni perse l’incontro al golden gol messo a segno dall’attaccante sudcoreano Ahn, all’epoca riserva del Perugia.

Wasn't this one of the instances that dino used to like to use to 'prove' that Totti couldn't be trusted for the Azzurri?

[RomaShield27]

So, any thoughts on the game there lads and lassies...?? Anyone watch it?

Thought it was a good win. We were patient and done alright against a side intent on sitting deep and closing us out. In previous years this is the kind of game we easily could have lost, but we done well to get the breakthrough before half-time and see it out in the second. The penalty was a very generous call but we were still in the ascendancy at that time and would have went on to win regardless I think. Our pressing, particularly high up the pitch starting with Destro, was very impressive, and we done well to close them out most of the time.

Gervinho was excellent. I've given him stick for being so wasteful in the last few games but this was the electrifying Gervinho, the one with fully charged batteries that make him seem unstoppable with the ball at this feet. When he plays like that he really is a top-class player, if only he could do it on a more consistent basis. He remains extremely unpredictable and in the next game he could very well return to brain-dead-zombie-on-drugs mode.

Poor old Nainggolan had a tough time of it after the game. He returned to Cagliari with his family (and kid) and was abused/chased by 20 Milan fans returning from their match. Stay classy yis pricks.

http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio ... +del+Milan

[DavidP]

1. strootman is so consistent it's sort of ridiculous. he doesn't belong at post-capello roma.
2. daniele's passing has been bothering me for a while. in the first half, he was trying a little too hard, misplacing almost every ambitious pass he tried. i get that pjanic wasn't on the pitch but some of his long balls were just uncalled for. even when he has to make a pretty straight-forward pass across the pitch, though, he puts his foot under the ball and gives it air when there's no need. strootman's passing is much different, much more crisp.
3. benatia is a baller. he's become one of my favorite players in the last 6 months. couldn't imagine that someone would fill the gaping hole marcos left this summer. in half a season.

[maro]

Do I not even get an acknowledgement on no.2? Ingrate.

[DavidP]

should you? i think the dudes from mama mama radio deserve it more.

[maro]

Yes. Why- because they, too, have only recently started noticing it?

[red]

Ed mentions Roma's pressing and while it was good, I couldn't understand why a team with Luca Toni in it would dick around with the ball at the back instead of just playing long and looking to play around Toni. I appreciate Benatia is better equipped than most defenders to deal with Toni, but Verona can't just suddenly stop using him as an out-ball completely.

Anyway, I though the key moment in the game was when Maietta got injured. That disturbed Verona's defence and deprived them of the energy of Romulo in midfield, which had been key to them being able to compete with Roma - to some extent at least - in that area of the pitch. With Donadel on in midfield Roma were well on top in that area and always looked like doing enough to win the game one way or another.

While the conditions were difficult (bumpy pitch and a low sun) I thought Verona's technique was atrocious. Roma's wasn't great, but it was at a relatively acceptable level given the conditions.

[RomaShield27]

Yeah, for that all important first goal Romulo – who moved to right-back after Maietta got injured – was caught up the field and out of position when Gervinho burst down the left flank to cross for Ljajic to tap home. Romulo was doing well in midfield, too, giving them a good outlet up the right-hand side. I was also unimpressed with Verona, I have to say. Earlier in the season I took them for a much more open attacking side, but they were anything but in this game. Maybe the loss of Jorginho cost them big time, but they were still quite poor and lost the ball quite easily a lot, and hit hopeless through balls into the path of Toni instead of high long balls.

David, agreed on Strootman, he's been excellent the last few games and has put in a monster amount of work. He doesn't seem to tire at all.

[DCGweez]

Thought Strootman was less impactful yesterday than normal. Not poor by any means just not as energetic and disruptive.

As Ed said though, this was a game we dropped points on last year after giving up a goal. Glad to see the boys are playing 90 minutes again.

[Italiamia]

I don't know if it's a bit premature to start making songs about a relatively new player but here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6kH88AS4gM

Of course, maybe the song was made to illustrate that we Italians are not racist. Interesting that it was dedicated to Gervinho by none other that Mario Corsi, "Marione", who is a neo-fascist and a murderer. What do you think, Edzo?

[RomaShield27]

What do I think? I think its a terrible song and I never want to hear it again. Thats about it.

Did you see the game yesterday, Italiamia? What did you think?

[maro]

[Italiamia]

[RomaShield27]

Sage of the forums relative to race, racism and racial relations in Italy? Ye wha? Because I posted articles and discussed the punishment handed down for racist chants by (various sets of) fans? Right, whatever you think... I have nothing to say about Marione because I know nothing about him (although didn't he used to have a regular column/radio piece on RomaNews.eu?), nor do I care what he or anyone else thinks about Gervinho. He's doing well, but he still has a lot to prove.

----------

Roma Club Focus: The Perfect Weekend
/ Published On: Tue, Jan 28th, 2014 / Roma Club Focus / By Anthony Wright

It was just about a perfect giornata for Roma this weekend; even before the Giallorossi kicked a ball against Verona, they had seen both Juventus and Napoli drop points against Lazio and Chievo.

Both sides could conceivably even have lost, but Roma’s win still both cut the gap to Juventus to six points and extended their lead over Rafael Benitez’s side to six. Even Fiorentina could only draw with Genoa to give Rudi Garcia’s team a nine point cushion in the Champions League places.

The victory itself against Verona was relatively straightforward. Although the game was goalless until injury time in the first half when Adem Ljajic coolly turned home Gervinho’s cross, the home side had shown little threat as Roma controlled territory and possession. Then an error from Leandro Castan early in the second half allowed Verona to attack down the right hand side and Emil Hallfredsson finished superbly, the first goal Roma had conceded since January 5.

Although Garcia was not happy with the goal his team conceded, Gervinho stepped up to give Roma the lead again with a superb strike. In the last couple of months his form has dipped after a brilliant start to the season, but he was at his best again against the Gialloblu. His ability to play on either side of the front three gives Roma’s attack an extra dimension, and his driving run that led to the opening goal is the sort of direct threat that the Giallorossi have been lacking for a number of years.

Up front then, things appear to be running smoothly, but with just a few days left in the transfer window, the main question facing sporting director Walter Sabatini is whether or not to sign another centre back. There has been much speculation about Everton’s John Heitinga coming in for a nominal fee as he is out of contract this summer, but it seems there is not a great deal of enthusiasm for his signature around the club. Sabatini is said to prefer Parma’s Gabriel Paletta, who would only be available on a co-ownership basis for €4m, while Garcia says that he is quite happy to continue with the squad as it is now.

Currently, Roma only have four senior centre backs following Nicolas Burdisso’s departure to Genoa: Mehdi Benatia, Leandro Castan, Alessio Romagnoli and Tin Jedvaj. The latter two have only played four games between them for the Giallorossi (two as substitute appearances), and Romagnoli was in fact about to join Spezia on loan to gain more experience until Burdisso’s request to leave put the brakes on the transfer.

On the face of it, it would be a risk not to sign anyone given the inexperience of Jedvaj and Romagnoli. As Roma look to consolidate their Champions League place and try to close the gap on Juventus, and an injury to either Benatia or Castan would create problems. However, the alternative to playing Jedvaj or Romagnoli would be to deploy Daniele De Rossi as a centre back (where he has played before), and Garcia has a ready-made replacement in midfield for De Rossi in the shape of Radja Nainggolan.

Personally I agree with Garcia when he says that he is happy for the defence to remain as it is. No one would come in at this stage to displace either Benatia or Castan, and there are enough alternatives to see Roma through until the summer when there will be more options available. To bring in John Heitinga because he is cheap or to potentially be overcharged for Paletta would be a mistake, particularly when there are other deals that need to be concluded before the end of the window.

The deal for Antonio Sanabria looks to have finally been resolved after Roma agreed to pay Barcelona around €4m plus bonuses after long negotiations between the two clubs. Originally Roma had thought they could pay the €3m release clause without a problem, but the Spanish club insisted that Sanabria had turned professional despite not having signed a new contract and that as a result they were due €12m. Sanabria arrived in Italy on Monday evening and is expected now to sign on loan for Sassuolo for the rest of the season before joining Roma permanently in the summer.

With the Sanabria deal having dragged on for longer than anticipated though, the move for Halmstads’ Valmir Berisha may have slipped through Sabatini’s fingers. The €330,000 fee had reportedly been paid, but because of the delay Borussia Dortmund are reported to have stepped in ahead of the Giallorossi. Meanwhile Leandro Paredes also needs to find a team to be loaned out to so that his move from Boca Juniors can be finalised, with Chievo Verona the suggested option.

Outbound the only player who the club are keen to move on is now Marquinho after Marco Borriello joined West Ham for six months; Roma are said to have agreed terms with Verona for a loan move but the Brazilian is unwilling to leave. Finally Giammario Piscitella and possibly Federico Ricci may also be loaned out until the end of the season. A sporting director’s work is never done…

[maro]

Berisha, Toloi, Vestenicky, Paredes, Sanabria - that's where the real threat to an Italian and Roman Roma is coming from. How long before most of the Primavera are from afar?

[DavidP]

most of the primavera players end up playing 0 minutes for roma. first there are promising players who don't make it (d'alesasndro, piscitella, montini, sabelli (the guy who responded to me on fb after i told him i liked his arse), etc.), the promising ones who prove themselves in a senior side (aquilani, florenzi), and the rest. the foreigners will replace the third category, not the aquilanis and florenzis - the players who show huge promise from a young age. if we had 16-year old de rossi or florenzi coming through in the primavera right now i doubt a competitor worth 3m would be brought in from abroad. but our primavera isn't full of future de rossis and berisha is probably coming in to replace a future fracastore. i don't see anything wrong with bringing in foreign talent to fill the positions in which we lack truly bright youngsters.

[Italiamia]

[maro]

You see, though, gio - in this day and age it doesn't matter, not when you're trying to cultivate a core fan-base from Georgia to Boston. And if the end result is to loosen the local fans' ties with the team that was once theirs, all the better - it'll take the sting out of some of the rivalries and leave space for bigger spending tourists to pop in for a couple of games a year. Filling the stadium (and the hotels you own nearby) with Americans and Chinese has to be more lucrative than packing it with local fans who were Romanisti even before they were born.

[maro]

The problem with your logic, Davit, is that some of those who haven't made it were the brightest stars in their age-teams. It's not as though your emblematic Florenzi will always be the stand-out player when he's 15. It might even almost be that the most gifted have things come too easily and so very often lack the guts and discipline that will finally be essential (I know, for instance, that when I was a kid I played with a few ridiculously skilful hockey players (two of them were the twin sons of the then national coach) who were found out when they got to 18 or 19). It's much easier to see a 14-year-old who has brilliant skills than one who genuinely sees the game.