THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

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[Carlo Romano]

Andrew, you forgot to mention Italian players were also at one time more fit than for example than their British counterparts.

British football had a big rethink when it was being left behind in the 1990's and the steady influx of foreign players/coaches brought a whole new outlook, broadened horizons badly needing broadened. What Britain provided was the hard graft and the speed. Coupled together, not forgetting the wealthy new club owners ability to bring "the best" to join the EPL, it became quite formidable and I think set an example for others to follow.

However, Germany would appear to be the currently growing Euro force!

[Giacomo]

I think only the judgment of the youth players has been quite sound overall. Only Aquilani is a regret but he was sold for financial rather than technical reasons, while the others were not good enough to play for Roma

[Giacomo]

[RomaShield27]

[Italiamia]

I agree with red completely. Certainly, a good team requires technically gifted players and some pace. If you are not defensively sound, then it makes no difference if your attack is comprised of highly skilled players with tremendous pace. There is no shame in winning games 1-0. If you are telling me that the game has to be a wide open track meet without solid defense and tactical discipline, then I cannot agree. In my opinion, you need a mix of players. I did not remember anyone complaining when Italy won the world cup. Suddenly, the Italian game has gone to hell because Italy plays an old style of football from bygone days? I cannot say that this is completely accurate.

I think the problem with the game in general is that the federations no longer put enough emphasis on developing young players. The blame lies also with the owners of the clubs as well. How can we discuss this issue and avoid the single greatest factor in constructing a good squad; money. Instead of investing in native players, most teams, big teams, in europe now go after the best players at the highest prices and the result is a foreign presence that continues to get larger with each passing year. I think the Spanish model is one to aspire to generally. They still maintain a considerable percentage of Spanish players in la liga and they are rightfully in my opinion World Champions as well as Champions of Europe. We also know that national teams now actively seek non-native, dual citizen players. This is modern football and it is something that I despise.

Carlo, the EPL is a foreign league. When less that a third of players on the pitch each weekend are British, what does that tell you?

[Giacomo]

I think you make an important point which is a big weakness of calcio: treatment of youngsters.

If you compare a list of the best players in the world today of 22 and under, say, with 10 years ago, then it is clear many fewere are Italian today than 10 years ago, while many more are Spanish, English and German now than 10 years ago.

Where are the next great Italian players? Ranocchia, certianly, Santon, maybe, and the rest?

Maybe the Italian are in the midst of a weaker production line of talent. Remember what Prandelli said last month: "I look for the talented Italian younger players in Serie A, but I don't see any."

[Giacomo]

I agree you need a mix of players, I don't think anyone would dispute that, but too often under Ranieri - and fatally in CL/EL - we play with too many players who lack sufficient mobility and quality. For example, it seems to me that for Totti to be part of an effective Roma team in CL, he has to play with Vucinic and Menez. In comparison Totti and Borriello together would suffer from insufficient mobility and would therefore not be effective.

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[Carlo Romano]

Good to see us at least appearing to be in a healthier position...it's still too damn tight for comfort though. We are one defeat away from being almost back where we were with so many teams clustered together within each other's reach. Much as I'd prefer to avoid discussing the top, I have to say even though I had an idea Inter mightn't show as strong this time around, we have to somehow erode the Lazio lead next Sunday!



Andrew, the attendances have been desperate! The EL is regarded as almost a non-event in Italy and as you say, it's playing hell with trhe co-efficient!

Gio, although I respect what the EPL has become, I don't like it because if it wasn't for outside money and talent, it would still be languishing where it was 20 years ago. But hell, that's a well enough known fact.

James, the issue seems to be how to best form the trio of Totti - Vuci - Borriello. Ranieri needs to get his head round that first and foremost.

[Giacomo]

I don't agree that it is a problem of attitude towards the EL. I think for too long Italian coaches have thought that quality - which they usually enjoy the advantage in against other European teams - is sufficient, even if the team generally lacks mobility. Nowdays that is not the case and a more limited team technically will find it easier to beat a more technically gifted team that lacks sufficient mobility.

What is odd is that Italian youth national teams have been performing as well as ever in the FIFA/UEFA youth competitions, yet they find less space in Serie A and even in Serie B, suggesting the problem - again - exists with the attitude of club coaches and directors, rather than in the youngsters themselves.

Perhaps the real problem is that, although the talent is the same as ever, the opportunity for it to be developed is much smaller, hence the problem of transforming promising teenagers into champions.

[Giacomo]

While the focus is on the attitude towards EL, which I don't believe is generally as poor as people say - what about CL? So far this season Serie A clubs have played 9 group games and won only 4 of them, while German clubs have won 5 out of 9 so far.

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That isn't really a big enough difference to draw conclusions from, especially when not all Group Stage games have been played.

[Lupa]

The big teams in Italy would rather go out and splash cash around on sure things rather than develop talent. The smaller teams have young Italian talent, but those teams don't play in Europe, so the players are inexperienced outside Serie A.

I don't know what the policy is in the Bundesliga, but it was striking what a young, talented, team they have in Germany. I think of the big leagues (off the top of my head without really any analysis), Spain and Germany probably have the most homegrown talent playing on their big teams.

[Italiamia]

[Giacomo]

What about Roma's salary bill, currently at about 85m euros per year. That is probably over double of what is paid to most squads we meet in Europe, outside of the major leagues.

[Italiamia]

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[Carlo Romano]

Guys, I don't want to appear like the Biblical "Job's comforter," but what salaries? There is a bill certainly...


Gio, what I meant when I said Ranieri needs to first get his head round to how to best utilise the trio of Vučinić - Totti - Borriello is just that. I too honestly don't think a Totti- Borriello front pair is sufficient. Totti can still create, thank goodness, if he has movement around him. What a pity Ranieri as I said before, lacks the cojones to play a Ménez - Vučinić pair of wide forwards in support of Totti and Borriello.

I'm beyond now hearing the story of such being "off balance" and "too attack minded." With all the righteous criticism of our midfield and defence right now, is it going to do us so much worse than to return to something like the Zeman or Spalletti methods of outscoring the opposition to get our points on the table?


Lupa, I get your meaning, choosing established names rather than waiting to see if the development of certain youngsters will pay off. Well, I'm one who says we need the Uefa proposed limitations on salaries, transfer fees, and foreign imports to happen in order to help equalise or at least cut down on an unfair gap, but I'm wise enough to know we ought not to hold our breaths waiting, more's the pity!

[Italiamia]