THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[Italiamia]

Frence`, I think you are blowing this Totti thing way the hell out of proportion. Totti is Totti. He's the King of Roma. There is no getting around that fact. The rules are applied differently to him. He's not just a player but he is really part of the organization. Another player with that kind of power and influence would have done a lot of damage to the team. I think he has actually done pretty well considering.

[Carlo Romano]

Gio, this morning we were told Marco Borriello was crowned the new king of Roma...

[Italiamia]

No likely Carlo.

[Carlo Romano]

Hey...I know that! I also think you meant both, "not likely" and "no likey!"

[stefano]

[Carlo Romano]

Steve, Ranieri is a strong willed man. I don't think he is afraid to impose his authority on anyone. All that will stop him is losing the locker room and since Vuci saved his ass on Saturday, the locker room bit could be a moot point as I too am sure we are on our way back!

[Italiamia]

[RomaShield27]

[Italiamia]

Saying that he is owed something are my words, not Totti's words. It is not about money. It is about giving him a pass when he reacts this way. I am sure he thinks, 'these fans know me, they know what I have given to this club and city, so when I say these things it is only because I care about this club and this city...' Therefore, I think he feels he has a right to be critical when he sees the team going in the wrong direction. He may have perfectly valid concerns about Ranieri's tactics at times. My only problem was that he said these things publically and also, he should not react like a petulent child when he is taken off of the pitch. He is not the only player that behaves this way of course but he gets the most press when he does falter emotionally. He and Cassano.

[vtec]

gianni, where is that quote in your signature from? it's spot on.

[Carlo Romano]

Gio, Ed, e tutti...

One match at a time as our young friend Jeff said. If we take this new feeling of enthusiasm Borriello speaks of with us to Fuorigrotta then we can undo Napoli.

Ranieri points to the element of luck last night and also possibly he meant against Inter too. Maybe so but the lads worked hard too. If they are starting to believe again then we can leave this poor start behind us just as we did last time.

[Italiamia]

[stefano]

[Carlo Romano]

Steve, I try to only pay attention to stories that come from Trigoria on such a touchy subject, the so-called physchological effect on the players. Ranieri has mentioned that fact publicly and I'm certain Totti and Vuci have done also.

I have tried to ignore those same suggestions from various sports pundits in matchday reports who only want to dramatise. We the fans know it has all contributed, the injuries, poor officiating, negative scorelines etc. Now all I want to see will be as you do, our return to respectability.

[stefano]

[Italiamia]

I guess you guys have read this article. I felt the need to make a response if only for the fact that this brain surgeon has the guts to quote Di Canio. I doubt it will be posted.

http://www.football-italia.net/blogs/si108.html

[Carlo Romano]

[stefano]

I think that fitness has been Roma's primary failing so far this season. The team is largely unchanged (apart from the improvements offered with the additions of Borriello, Adriano, et al.) from the team that challenged Inter last season. Are these players so mentally weak that they are that unsure of their collective ability (ability that they and we have seen first hand)? I'm not buying it. The press needs something to write, and psychology is sufficiently vague to fill any gaps in their (and our) understanding.

[Carlo Romano]

I'll go along with the fitness reason certainly as being a major factor. We know our mister has been complaining since late July that "his lads" were not making the progress he had hoped...and it showed!

Yes, professionalism demands more both physically and mentally, but for what it's worth I certainly haven't forgotten what it is like to be as disappointed at their age as they have clearly been with our poor start, and it's for that reason I try to make allowances in judging them. It's very easy to say they are being paid plenty so they should shape up. Yes, that is true but again they are human.

Apologies here for repeating myself...on the subject of money, I hope our directors do the right thing by Julio Sergio. It's criminal he is only getting €.75mil when we depend on him so much yet others sit on the bench and are paid handsomely. I don't know the terms of his contract but if our management doesn't intend to increase his wage in the near future then a few good bonuses are in order. It won't take another club long to offer him more than we give.

[Lupa]