THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

Di Vaio speaking at half time: "It was a deliberate handball and a second yellow card. I don't understand how he could not have been booked for that, the referee saw it and awarded a free-kick. It makes no sense."

[RomaShield27]

Very nice performance. It's amazing what a change like a new manager can do for the spirit and enthusiasm of a team. A nice, organised and controlled display, good selections from Montella, good set up and movement all round the pitch, and good solid defending throughout the entire game. Pizarro makes a huge difference to the team, of course, and its great to have him back as he brings such composure to the side which had been sorely missing. Vucinic done well out left and worked hard, while Borriello looked a little out of place as prima-punta in this set up and so was visibly even more frustrated than usual. Totti done great again when he came on, and something has changed dramatically with his attitude lately and its paying off for him and for the entire team. Great display for him. How nice it was to watch him and Pizarro in the team at the same time and some of the passing which results. Doni was solid in goal and I think has to be considered our number one from here on. Welcome back. And well done, Monty, super start, great three points.

[pocari_fenrir]

aw shit... i didnt know we were playing @ 12... i thought the game was to start in 10 min

[RomaShield27]

Thats a sickener, Pocari! Full match available for download in the

Pagelle:
http://www.forzaroma.info/le-pagelle/77 ... scudi.html
http://www.romatiamo.net/content/bologn ... e-pizarro-è-andato-lourdes-ci-porti-anche-riise
http://www.romanews.eu/bologna-roma-le- ... te-ordine/

[Lupa]

Photos from the match (found on the offside):

http://www.daylife.com/photo/06mje7IbSO419?q=AS+Roma

They gave DDR a new nationality on the caption on this one!
http://www.daylife.com/photo/04iM8Kn69h96t?q=AS+Roma

[Italiamia]

Libya about to go the way of Egypt. No word yet from Edge.

[RomaShield27]

(Original article )



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Some interesting points raised here. I think Montella was very assured in his selections last night and got all his calls right, right down to his starting 11 to the timing and choice of his subs. Myself and Stef and Tom were discussing Monty's decision to drop Totti in the SB during game time and all agreed it was a statement of intent from him, sort of like to say I'm the boss and I make all the calls. I was surprised he done it, while Stef wasn't. It was a good move, which, paid off all round in the end. Stef was saying that Montella must of told Totti his plans one-v-one prior to kick-off, but I wasn't so sure, as I think he wanted to make his intentions clear to everyone at the same level and not single anyone out. It worked last night, and hopefully the players can learn to respect the coachs decisions on a level which they clearly didn't under Ranieri and we'll see an end to all the petulance and bullshit from many of the players.

Totti also looks a lot sharper, and Montella said he's been in good shape recently and training well. He looks a lot more eager and hungrier than he has done in a quite a while, and the switch to a 4-2-3-1 will benefit him greatly (if not Borriello).

On the 4-2-3-1, its interesting to hear Montella say how the team cannot support a trident attack at present. Himself eing part of a great tridente in the past and given his nature as a goal-scorer you would of thought he would of tried everything to make a front three of some sort work. In a 4-2-3-1, he could of tried Menez out wide in place of Taddei and have Menez and Vucinic get closer to Borriello/Totti. But I guess its a sign that he is thoughtful in his role, in that he has to think about shoring up the defence first, and how the whole team are responsible for defending. Taddei offers great workrate down the right and there is a reason coaches keep on picking him.

In the nets, Montella's words were certainly to the point, and I have to say I agree with him. I like JS, he has been inspirational for us at times, but I have always believed that Doni is a better all round keeper than him. JS is a great shot-stopper and has great reactions, but he doesn't command his area as good as Doni, and if the latter can get a decent run going and get his confidence back I think he can be good for us. Good, but not great, and I think we will need to look at getting a new number one in the summer.

[Giacomo]

[ASR1927]

So most of the Roma sites are saying that Shakhtar has submitted video evidence to UEFA showing De Rossi punching one of their players!
They are apparently demanding he be banned for a minimum of 3 matches! This is not good. FFS Daniele your supposed to be the future captain act like it. Roma can defend him but apparently the evidence is pretty damning.


More details as they arrive.

UPDATE:
From football-italia.

Daniele De Rossi may find himself banned for Roma’s Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk after an alleged punch.

The Corriere dello Sport today claims that UEFA are in possession of video evidence which appears to show the Italian strike an opponent after last week’s 3-2 loss at the Olimpico.

Officials from Donetsk handed the footage over to UEFA’s disciplinary committee who will now have to rule on the incident.

The paper suggests that a ban is almost inevitable for the player who scored in the midweek 1-0 win over Bologna.

It’s claimed that De Rossi, the midfield powerhouse, will be suspended for at least three European ties.

New Roma boss Vincenzo Montella is already without the suspended Marco Cassetti and Jeremy Menez for the second leg.

The Champions League knock-out rounds haven’t been kind to Italian clubs.

Not only did all three sides lose their home games, but UEFA also banned Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso for four matches after his altercation with Spurs Coach Joe Jordan.

[maro]

I blame Totti.

[RomaShield27]

Feck, thats bad news. I guess any chance we had of going through has gone out the window. Did anyone see this punch or remember it happening? Looking for a video of it now but nothing there.

Our Primavera won their second match on the trot in the Torneo di Viareggio () :

ROMA - TARANTO 5-0

Reti: 32' pt Florenzi (R), 2' st Antei (R), 19' st Caprari (R), 22' st Florenzi (R), 44' st Montini (R).

Roma (4-2-3-1):[/b] Pena; Sabelli, Antei, Mladen, Amendola; Viviani (20' st. Falasca), Florenzi; Dieme (13' st. Caprari), Ciciretti (28' st. Politano), Piscitella; Montini. A disposizione: Pigliacelli, Carboni, Falasca, Frascatore, Orchi, Scardina, Verre. All. De Rossi.

Taranto (4-1-3-2):[/b] Ricci; Zaccaria, Chiochia, Bonaventura, Turi; Sogliuzzo; Di Dio (19' st. Curri), Gori, Maniscalco (1' st. Paone); Russo, Savasta (5' st. Lanzillotti). A disposizione: Goio, Sanna, Papa, Dragone, Pisani, Raffo. All. Montesardi.


Check out Adriano returning to Rome. Its great to see he's been sweating away in the gym to shed that extra stone or two. How have we not rescinded his contract already?



http://www.corrieredellosport.it/video/ ... gno+va+via

[ASR1927]

[maro]

He looks like he may have eaten Pizarro.

[ASR1927]

From football-italia:

Adriano may have returned to Roma after almost a period of recuperation in Rio de Janeiro, but there are reports that his career at the club is over.

Roma were apparently unimpressed by the lack of concern he showed when Claudio Ranieri resigned on Sunday evening after the team's 4-3 defeat to Genoa.

Adriano was seen shopping in Rio and taking photographs with fans. Earlier this month footage also emerged of the 29-year-old drinking while supposedly recovering from a broken arm.

La Gazzetta dello Sport understands Roma have, to some extent, lost patience with Adriano, not least because he has yet to score in 241 minutes of play and his performances don't justify his earnings.

Rosella Sensi gambled last summer when she signed the former Brazil international on a free transfer, offering Adriano a three-year deal worth €5m a season before tax.

Given its financial situation, the club is keen to remove such a heavy burden from its balance sheet and has an offer on the table from Corinthians.

However, it's thought that Adriano, while prepared to leave Roma, would ideally like to return to Flamengo and link up with Ronaldinho.

[ASR1927]

[RomaShield27]

What the hell, this is turning into a bit of a sham. The The Corriere dello Sport initially reported that Shakhtar officials gave a video to UEFA’s disciplinary committee showing De Rossi hitting someone after the full-time whistle, but now the barristers are outright denying that. Either they have video evidence of something which was missed by the officials or they can fuck off and leave it as it is.

Here's Antonio Conte's comments in Italian: http://www.forzaroma.info/news-as-roma/ ... detto.html

[maro]

forzaroma's reporting that the DDR case has been kicked out of court so he should be available and that Amantino Mancini has been charged with sexual assault. What a fine advert for the game he has always been.

[Italiamia]

[RomaShield27]

[Lupa]

According to this Football Italia article, it was video evidence of something that happened on a corner, but De Rossi has been absolved.

http://www.football-italia.net/feb26a.html


Roma have thanked UEFA for absolving Daniele De Rossi after footage of him throwing a punch at a Shakhtar Donetsk player emerged.

The Ukraine club had requested a ban when the video evidence emerged of his clash with Dmytro Chygrynskiy on a corner kick.

“We are happy that De Rossi has been absolved,” Giallorossi director Gian Paolo Montali declared. “Our defensive strategy and the reserved manner of dealing with this case were rewarded.

“The club was aware of Shakhtar’s claim before Wednesday’s game with Bologna, but I decided not to tell the player or the squad in order to avoid extra tension on the new tactician’s debut.

“As we had hoped, the UEFA Disciplinary Commission considered it a normal coming together during a corner kick. Now we must see if Shakhtar decide to present an appeal.”

__________________________

It's been a long week, so I can't be bothered to go look at the original Italian to see if Football Italia got the translation right.

Totti has had some glory against Parma in the past I seem to recall. I'll take glory for Roma, but it's a big occasion for Totti.