THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[ASR1927]

Your right Carlo it was more at home that he played that formation.

Bet365 is showing the match for all of us Ireland/UK based Romanistas who don't have ESPN.

[maro]

Forzaroma are sketching it as a 4-4-2 but we shall see. Cicinho in for Taddei late - not great. Good to see Mexes in.

[Carlo Romano]

Mexes instead of Nico Burdisso and Cicinho for Taddei. That's the only changes to the propsed lineup. So we have:



Though Vuci will play further forward than in a rigid 4-4-2 and it's being suggested Totti could in fact later go behind Marco and Mirko if Ranieri thinks it is required.

[Carlo Romano]

I'm not motivated at all to comment on what we've done. Today was all about what we haven't done...

...and this in a "must win" situation? Bah!

Under normal circumstances, an away 0-0 wouldn't be the end of the world and this season, it happens to be our first away point. The ESPN UK commentator wouldn't give up on Ranieri possibly being out of a job come Monday. I don't think so. But a few more matchdays like today, given our non-performance, and he will most definitely be gone before or by Christmas.



Here is an un-edited extract from the Shitbox...


Time for lunch.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:24 pm

Later, Jeff!
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:23 pm

Draw hmmmmmmm Ciao boys enjoy your afternoon.
ASR1927
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:23 pm

Under "normal" circs, this 0-0 wouldn't be the end of the world...but for us now, too miserable for words!
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:23 pm

I should have said expression...
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:18 pm

He can give the phrase "cock-up" an entire new meaning!
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:16 pm

I'd have been more surprised had be made the right pass, Carlo.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:15 pm

I cannot believe il bestione!
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:15 pm

Baptista you fucking dick.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:14 pm

It's better to lose playing well than to lose playing badly, right?
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:14 pm

Crespo's customary dive against Mexes.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:13 pm

Too damn scrappy there by us!
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:13 pm

Oh I am painfully aware of how defensively frail the formation is...
ASR1927
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:12 pm

Any inches between mates sounds dodgy to me, Carlo. It also leaves us much more exposed defensively, Goffredo, which is why Claudio has gone away from it. I'm not sure it's really suited Borriello in this second half either. Totti would be much better at getting himself into the game from up there.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:10 pm

Tom they do seem more comfortable in a 4-2-3-1.... when it works
ASR1927
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:08 pm

What's a half inch between mates? lol! Lucky Crespo missed and was also o/s.
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:08 pm

I've heard it's more like 11.5 inches. Cassetti's first defensive mistake of the game.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:06 pm

Didn't Brighi hurt his foot there?
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:05 pm

Cheers Tom
ASR1927
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:05 pm

I think Claudio's telling Brighi to sit a little more. He's made a number of forward runs which leave us very exposed.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:04 pm

Goffredo, that's partly because we're only playing with one striker. Had the sub been Borriello for Simplicio you might be saying the same thing, I think.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:04 pm

Oh...I wish Pizza had thought of a long range volley there instead of doing the common sense thing he did, with the chip to try to find Borriello.
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:03 pm

The odds that this finishes 0-0 are not high, I don't think.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:03 pm

Too many players wrong side of the ball when we lose it. Claudio's gambling big time.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:02 pm

...and now Okaka! Yeeeeees!!!!
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:01 pm

Good sub, but Cicinho's had a very good second half.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:00 pm

Funny we are looking more like Roma without Totti on the pitch.
ASR1927
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:00 pm

I hope this little cunt Giovinco doesn't do to us what he once did with Empoli!
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 11:59 am

Classic 4-2-3-1. We will be so exposed if they get a chance to break.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 11:58 am

What a difference extra pace has made in addition to the module change. It's heart warming to see us look more like Roma again...
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 11:58 am

Without profondita' or depth on attack the pitch is suddenly an awful lot smaller.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 11:56 am

Football is played in three-dimensional space, Carlo. A game like rugby is basically played in linear space.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 11:55 am

Lacking depth!
Carlo Romano
Sun Oct 24, 2010 11:54 am

With the 4-2-3-1 we suddenly see a much nicer, more open game.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 11:54 am

I think in general people underestimate the value of accuracy in decision-making and movement.
maro
Sun Oct 24, 2010 11:52 am

[maro]

To cheer up dibbus:

Primo punto in trasferta per la Roma. Oggi finalmente tiene benissimo la difesa, ottimo Mexes, benissimo Cassetti, Pizarro è tornato lui. Totti e Vucinic sostitutiti da Ranieri hanno poco tempo per mettersi in mostra. Baptista delude ancora e fa infuriare il pubblico giallorosso.

Lobont 6: Come ormai d'abitudine compie il grande intervento della sua partita a gioco fermo. Per il resto partita d' ordinaria amministrazione

Cassetti 6.5 : Corre che è una bellezza, lotta su tutti i palloni, si propone e tiene benissimo dietro. Partita veramente positiva oggi. Mette dentro ottimi cross che i compagni non riescono a sfruttare

Mexes 6.5: Partita molto attenta, preciso negli anticipi, ottimo nel gioco areo è pericolosissimo anche nei calci da fermo quando sfiora il gol in due occasioni. Nota lieta

Juan 6.5: Questa Roma non può fare assolutamente a meno di lui. Sicuro e concreto. Semplicemente fondamentale.

Riise 6: Non è ancora lui, ma oggi non demerita. Non si vede tantissimo davanti, ma in fase difensiva regge benissimo e in più di un occasione salva il risultato mettendoci una pezza.

Cicinho 5: Quando un esterno con il piede che ha lui non azzecca neanche un cross il voto non può che essere insufficiente. E' abbastanza presente nella partita ma è troppo, troppo impreciso.

Pizarro 7: Si è allenato in settimana e si vede. Partita veramente lucida, regia perfetta, smista palloni, imposta e recupera tantissimi palloni. Perfetto.

Brighi 5: Anonimo, non fa nulla per essere ricordato.

Vucinic 6: Sembra essere in giornata, corre tantissimo nel primo tempo e si sfianca in un doppio lavoro anche in fase difensiva. Sostituito a sopresa da Ranieri dopo solo cinque minuti della ripresa.

Totti 5.5: Non è in una grandissima giornata, sbaglia tanti palloni ma quando accende la luce è sempre pericoloso. Sostituito addirittura a fine primo tempo da Ranieri,

Borriello 6: Si danna l'anima per tutta la partita. Duetta con Paletta che lo tiene benissimo. Nella ripresa si infuria con Cicinho che non riesce a dargli una palla giocabile.

Simplicio 5.5 : Poca roba, non è ancora integrato nel contesto della squadra.

Baptista 4 : Fa infuriare tutto il popolo giallorosso quando sbaglia clamorosamente un contropiede con la Roma in superiorità numerica. Irritante

Okaka s.v.

Ranieri 4.5 : Migliora la situazione difensiva, ma i cambi di oggi sono incomprensibili. Fuori Totti e Vucinic per Simplico e Baptista. Mah.

Actually, I think Cicinho did well and we played much better after Totti and Vooch had been subbed. Baptista criminally butchered a golden opportunity and made a number of his trademark impossibly bad passes, but he also did some good things and, to my mind, didn't really offer any less than a clearly not fully fit Vooch who will need another game or two before he hits his stride. Interestingly, Borriello looked a bit lost when we went to 4-2-3-1 - unable to get involved.

[Carlo Romano]

Despite the ongoing press silence, Daniele Pradè felt obliged to comment on Signor Claudio after that miserable episode yesterday afternoon in very brief interviews with the media including Sky Italia, Roma Channel, and Mediaset. Below is a translation from Romanews.



The Sky Italia piece:

Pradè: "The club has unlimited faith in Claudio Ranieri. We have the maximum confidence, esteem and friendship in him. He’s untouchable! Without a shadow of doubt we will keep going with him. Obviously there are regrets at the result today, as we ought to win these games. At least we can begin again from a clean sheet. It has been quite a few months since we’ve picked up a point away from home too. It is always positive to exchange ideas and we know these lads well. Our rapport is frank and sincere. We started the season in a strange way, but we have all the time it takes to turn it around.”

He continued: “These are games Roma must win, but we have not scored any goals. We must maintain the average. Totti accepted his substitution calmly. The things that happen in the dressing rooms remain in the dressing rooms”

On the press silence he said: “We respect your job. But in this moment we want to safeguard our group, we want only this, believe me”

He again refuted any interest in other coaches: “Ranieri is untouchable, these stories are all from outside the club. With Ranieri we have stimulus and friendship.”




The Press conference:

On the substitutions of Totti and Vučinić:
“The coach's choice. Vučinić had just returned from injury after two weeks and could have been tired. I do not want to judge the choices, I take care of my own house. Vučinić did not have ninety minutes in the legs, Totti has played a lot and perhaps he was tired.”




To Roma Channel:

On the pitch there are also psychological issues. We could have done more. We took off Vučinić who was a little tired and we replaced Totti. Mexes played a great game. So did Pizarro.




To Mediaset Premium:

“Totti? he was taken off as a tactical choice and replaced by Simplicio, a player in whom we believe very much. We have a group that guarantees us the maximum.” As for the effect on the relationship of Ranieri with the players after this result, the relationship with players is solid. We have maximum confidence in Ranieri, we are all going down the same road. Will I be renewing Ranieri's contract? That's between the president and the coach.




Marco Cassetti to Mediaset Premium:

A draw which pleased nobody. Both teams played to win. We made mistakes which caused us to cope with situations we didn't like. We tried to give our best. It was a difficult game, based much on the recent "agonismo." We got an ugly draw but we are on the right road. We didn't attack with quality. The wish today, was to create something of importance. But we are calm and we will continue. The group is united, there is no friction between us.


-----------------------------------------------------------


Numerous times over the years I have seen and read statements of a show of solidarity between coach and club in many different countries, under similar circumstances, just before the beleaguered coach's head ends up on the chopping block. Again I must say, I hope we don't act in haste, that's to say, make a poor replacement for the sake of doing so, because it's not true that "anything would be better than this." Things could actually be a lot worse though it may not currently seem so.

Nonetheless it's becoming increasingly hard to have faith as things stand. Yesterday our midfield was really poor in the first 45. We all saw that Totti wasn't getting involved. How could he when he wasn't getting the ball and similar applies to Vuci and Marco Borriello.

The second half changes helped but we still lacked quality because Baptista is what he is and Simplicio is not exactly in best condition, though he tried for which I was grateful. I think Okaka for Cicinho was a fair change but the lad is not playing regularly so how can he be expected to give of his best? Cicinho had put in a fair shift, in truth, but even though I imagine il mister saw the need for another attacante, I think he would have had to replace Cici anyway as he was tiring...

Hopefully when Ménez returns and both he and Taddei reach proper match fitness that will help us.

[RomaShield27]

Just seen the game in full now – its a long weekend here and I was away down the country (haven't digested previous comments. If anyone wants to download the game let me know). Disappointing result and disappointing performance against a poor Parma side.

What's the fuckin story with Ranieri's tactics and selections? Vucinic on the left and Cicinho on the right to begin with, Totti off at half-time, Simplicio on at half-time to play in attacking midfield, taking off Vucinic on the 50th minute mark, playing Baptista on the left of midfield, Okaka on the right… jasus you could go on, what is the story with all that jazz? Its hard to make sense of it it all. You'd need to be a fuckin mathematical guinness with several degrees in advanced diagrammatic formulae or some shit to understand it all. How exactly are the players meant to know what to do with all these changes?

Mexes was easily MoM. Its hard to get your head around how he was sitting on the bench for even a second when he's in this type of form, as has been all season. Glorious to see him wear the captains armband in the second-half.

[Carlo Romano]

Ed, I'd prefer to draw a veil over yesterday and the only positive point I can make is that Ranieri did try to "go for it," albeit later than he might have. That said, there was without doubt some under performing, partly with genuine reason, partly not. As you can imagine, the tifosi romani aren't best pleased. The Roma Uno channel has shown quite a few unhappy chappies being interviewed...

November 3 is supposed to be the day from which the serious offers to buy will be invited and I hope that info from the usual Roma sites, Romanews etc. is correct, or we could be looking at a long and laborious rebuilding process on limited funding.


btw, mathematical guinness! lol!

[Italiamia]

[Carlo Romano]

Mexes had a very good game in comparison to some of our other players. There was some comment or other in a couple of the Roma websites which I didn't pay a great deal of attention to, something along the lines of, "so much for our €8mil defender Burdisso that Ranieri was so desperate to get."

It's easy to become excited about the few positives in that match like Mexes and Pizarro, but let's get matters in perspective. Parma were bloody awful. Worse than us really, because as the home side they should have provided tougher opposition, though what they gave us was certainly tough enough to stop us! We are way off form and they are poor. That can't give an accurate picture.

I hate to concede that the level of quality depth in Serie A has dropped, but we cannot deny it has. The currently higher level of competition in the EPL will make interesting viewing as regards Mexes' ability to cope against strong opposition, not just once every few weeks as he does now, but almost every week...if he leaves us in January for that shower of scumbags in England's north west.

Nico Burdisso has undeniably been knocked out of his stride because of his last injury, and by our standards, what he did for us last season is a hard act to follow but we need him to get it back and quickly, irrespective of the fact that most on this forum would prefer Mexes as Juan's regular partner in central defence, provided he does stay with us.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------


I hope il mister and the lads take a good long look at the way the latest stats read and act accordingly...I also hope that after we beat Lecce on Saturday, it's not blown out of all proportion! Please note...it's not only Football Italia who make mistakes. The Lecce match is definitely scheduled to kick off at 18:00CET on SATURDAY Oct.30, not Sunday 31'st as is stated on this image!





The original is at: http://www.tifosidellaroma.com/

There is also an article which I had mentioned a few posts ago on the fact some of our tifosi want the return of Zdenek Zeman...

[vtec]

[maro]

Had you seen our performances against Cludge and Bazil you'd know that giving this Roma a hard time is no mark of especial distinction.

[Deini]

Mexes always plays with his heart.

So if Ranieri gets sacked they be looking at Montella? Oh boy, why not just put Bruno in front of the players?

[ASR1927]

Oh boy! Whether it's true or not is another story but....


There is growing dissent at Roma with Mirko Vucinic, Adriano and Stefano Okaka all wanting out in January, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Claudio Ranieri has apparently lost several members of the dressing room after a disastrous start to the season in which Roma have won just two games in Serie A.

The highest profile casualty looks set to be Vucinic, the Montenegro international striker who has grown increasingly disillusioned with life in the capital.

Vucinic reacted angrily to being substituted against Parma on Sunday, taking his anger out on a boot bag as he made his way to the bench.

Much of his grievances are shared by Adriano, who is disgruntled at a lack of playing time despite being plagued by injuries.

They apparently feel that Marco Borriello should never have been signed given the number of strikers already at the club.

Okaka has also expressed his desire to leave in January, telling journalists that certain promises haven't been kept at Roma.

The 21-year-old expected to feature more regularly after a six-month loan spell at Fulham.

[RomaShield27]

Yay, ain't it just lovely being a Roma fan! Such much happiness! Such much joy! As if my day wasn't bad enough. I'm too busy in work to put together anything more constructive, so that'll have to do. Yayyyyy. Forza RoMadness.

[Italiamia]

Edzo, Okaka has openly discussed his desire to leave because he is not going to get much playing time. I could not give a shit about what the fat fuck Adriano says. I was not in favor of signing him to begin with so he can go in January. The rumors about Vucinic are exactly that, rumors. He loves Rome and the Roma. The press is stirring up shit because that is what they do, especially in Italy. I watched the game on Rai and Vucinic looked fine to me. Maybe you have read the other rumor that Inter have agreed to sign Vucinic in June on a 4 year deal. Was it not just a week or so ago that the press had him going to England? Anyway, how could he really argue with being taken off when he is really not 100% match fit. Although, if I were Ranieri, I would certainly ask him how he was feeling and if he could continue before taking him off. The last thing we need is a re-aggravation of his injury.

Regardless, if these guys can't handle the fact the Borriello was one of our best aquisitions in the last several years, then they had either get over it, or get out.

[Carlo Romano]

All from Romanews:

Difficult days ahead for Ranieri who will have to prepare the squad for one of the more important weeks of the season. Beginning Saturday, in fact, the giallorossi will face within eight days, Lecce, Basilea, and Lazio. A treble that can mark the definitive rebirth of Roma.


News from the infirmary: firstly, two pieces of good news, De Rossi and Ménez are improving and are now seen as being in good condition. The bad news however is Ranieri had hoped to call Taddei for Lecce but the same calf muscle problem continues. Bad news indeed as it seemed he was about to return. He will undergo tests tomorrow and the fear is he faces another month out. Perrotta didn't train today and once again Big Fatso was also absent. He has not trained regularly with the group from the 30 September...


Never a "banal" word... from our ex coach Fabio Capello and former playing hero Zibi Boniek. Our former allenatore thinks our crisis is squad related, “something which does not work inside of the group.” Boniek sees an increasing resemblance to the later Spalletti days when he was losing the players...Sven Eriksson got in the act by saying he thinks Roma will get past this.


------------------------------------



Two further items...

In the shares market, As Roma has lost today one percentage point. In the meantime, the press agency Sporteconomy urges our club to hurry to sell, so the new owner has the time in order to prepare "fast operations" for the upcoming calciomercato.

A meeting of our shareholders has been convened for this coming Thursday at 15:00. No specific reason is given so we can surmise normal business will be the discussion plus the upcoming date of November 3 when it is hoped to invite official offers from buyers.



...and Rosella Sensi has been fined €9,000 over her remarks regarding the Brescia match.


------------------------------------------------------



'Tec, our Professore is 100% correct here. Our Roma is so poor right now, it doesn't take all that much to beat us. So often I am taken to task over my comment that Serie A lacks the strength in depth it once had. In the 1990's Italy ruled Europe. That's not a personal opinion, it's plain fact. If you have a minute, go to our Other Italian Clubs/General Calcio thread and access the topic from Tuesday Nov.10, 2009 in the Conversazione Aperta thread. I had originally supplied a link but it came up "not found!"

All our triumphs back then are listed. Serie A now in comparison...I don't even want to think about how much power we have lost!


Deini, we all wondered where you have been and it's good you are back! Montella and Conti? I'm glad I know you are only joking...


Jeff & Ed, the reason I didn't post that article is because I can't see it anywhere on the related Roma websites, not Il Romanista, Romanews, etc. I want something a lot more concrete of a source than just one, with all respect to you, Jeff.


Gio, I too as you see, want something a lot more solid than rumour. But don't be blind to Vuci's frustration with our current situation. As I said in a previous post, he is not just angry with himself because he is not yet back to full fitness. Although Riise deserved to be chastised for misreading Vuci's build up play in one particular attack, that didn't mean he had to publicly get on Big Ginger's case. As for that piece of blubber from Rio, he should be thrown out in January, not just asked to find another club. As for the supposed resentment to Borriello...how can our other forwards criticise the one who is scoring goals? I'll accept professional jealousy as a reason but no more. No wonder I refer to the "gentlemen of the press" as being a shower of communistic, loudmouthed, scumbuckets. In my working life I have had far too many dealings with them for anything to be dismissed as mere coincidence.


------------------------------------------------


Last but not least...

A new dvd of 101 great Roma goals: http://laroma24.it/archivio/29978/il-pr ... -roma.html

[ASR1927]

No worries Carlo. As I prefaced the article with that I thought it was probably bullshit. Things are bad enough around here without printed unfounded rumours. So I shall try to show restraint in the future unless it can be confirmed on several Roma related sites.

[Carlo Romano]

[aba_bab]

I see Shieldy has yet to reply about the self-proclaimed king of rome voochie's recent hissy fit...