THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[Lupa]

Will Carlo Ancelotti Be Good Or Bad For Roma?

With Carlo Ancelotti to Roma almost a done deal, will the former Milan boss have a positive or negative effect, and what can the fans expect from twice Champions League winner.

Positives:

1. Winning mentality: No one can argue that Ancelotti is one of the most successful managers in the game. And this know-how is probably best thing he can give to Roma. The capital city club, right now, really lacks the mentality of champions, as the shadow of Claudio Ranieri looms large. (no shit, sherlock, but this isn't just a Ranieri problem)

Problems when seeing games out, concentrating for the full 90 minutes, getting frustrated and breaking in important moments in game, are all issues.

Carlo can change that, he can inject assurance, calmness and solidity in squad. He can motivate the team to win. It is really important for players to know that on the bench sits a man who knows how to win, such a winning aura will help get the team going in games against weaker opponents, ensuring they do not get complacent or scared of losing. Also in big games a manager with a big name can lift his sides spirits and make them believe they are better side.

2. Man management: Claudio Ranieri faced many difficulties in Roma, when he needed to deal with big egos of Francesco Totti, Mirko Vucinic and Jeremy Menez. In Ancelotti, Roma will have a man who is not afraid to bench Totti, while being a man all players will respect, thus taking his decisions calmly and with the understanding that Carlo knows what he is doing, and that he does it for the good of Roma. This comes hand in hand with above mentioned motivation issues against weaker and stronger opponents. (I think maybe Carlo will be able to handle the Totti in declining years situation. Although he's in good form lately, we know it can't last forever. )

3. Tactical knowledge: When Carlo is in town, no Roma fan will have to be afraid of mysterious substitutions, such as taking off David Pizarro for Rodrigo Taddei. Also, expect Ancelotti to resolve Roma’s defensive issues. In midfield we can expect a diamond formation similar to the one he played in Milan, with Pizarro taking deep lying playmaker role just as Andrea Pirlo did at Milan. Daniele De Rossi will be Ancelotti’s new Gattuso and Seedorf’s place in diamond is still up for the grabs, as some new players will definitely arrive. In attack, he will have his biggest headache, as he will have to figure out who to drop from the following quartet: Totti, Menez, Vucinic or Marco Borriello if he extends his stay in the Eternal City. (Montella has helped with respect to this, as his substitutions are pretty straightforward, but I think Carlo can make some creative subs without having wtf moments every game)

4. Getting best out of aging players: Roma have pretty old squad right now and if Thomas DiBenedetto is to be conservative with buying new players, Carlo is the man for the job, because of his ability to extend the careers of older players. This is really important to Roma, because of their dependence on Totti. Although, he has driven Roma forward this season sometimes on his own, his legs are gone, and have been for some time, thus most of his goals come from the penalty spot. Ancelotti will have to find a place for Totti in his line up, to help him flourish.

Negatives:

1. Lethargic approach: Sometimes Carlo can really be slow and look uninterested. This is his worst quality, in big games he can be reluctant to change if things aren’t going right. When he played Inter in quarter finals of the Champions League with Chelsea, he refused to shake things up at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea were unable to breakdown the Nerrazzuri’s defence.

Also, in Milan his refusal to take a more negative approach led to Milan shipping three goals in 45 minutes (you all know the match), and let’s not forget how Milan crashed out of Europe against Deportivo after being 4-1 up after the first leg at the San Siro. This could prove costly at Roma too, if Ancelotti won’t change his tradition of losing games at end of the match – something he has common with Roma – or the denial that he may have got his tactics wrong. Though there are some bright side, Roma is his beloved club, so maybe he can work those things out for sake of his supported team.

2. Not trusting in youth: Is it Ancelotti or is it just that wherever he goes, he has played with an aging squad. Though, as I mentioned, Carlo isn’t too displeased with this, as he prefers to get best out of older players. But not trusting younger players was something which was hated by every Roma fan while Claudio Ranieri was at the helm of the club, so it won’t be tolerated even with Carlo in charge. Even with abilities when working with more experienced players, he will have to inject some youth in squad, for the future of Roma. This won’t be a job for two seasons, where he can squeeze out all juice of the squad and not think about rebuilding and the future. But with his refusal to trust youngsters, Roma fans will have some worries.

So, summing everything up, it seems a match made in heaven for Roma and Ancelotti, as after trying hard to find more negative things I was left with nothing. Carlo is a fantastic coach and will lift Roma from mediocrity to Champions League participants (in which he can also take Roma far, as Champions League is a competition in which he performs best) and maybe Scudetto chasers in two seasons time. No matter which players DiBenedetto buys, Ancelotti will be Roma’s best purchase.

Comments in brackets and italics are mine. I'm not sure I'm quite as optimistic in the final summation as the writer of this piece, but I hope for the best if/when Ancelotti arrives.
http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2011/04 ... -for-roma/

*clicking on the link is worthwhile, especially for the young 'uns who only know Carlo as somewhat rotund. Scroll down about halfway for a picture of him in his Roma glory days.

[romawi]

Do not want Ancelotti.

[RomaShield27]

Vucinic ain't going nowhere. As if we haven't got enough problems and enough holes to fill without losing one of our best players, entertaining the notion of losing Vucinic as well is detrimental. He's a hero one day, and the next he's a villain, simply because he's gone through a poor bit of form. And you can't believe everything that an agent says. If that were the case then we'd be selling every player in the squad, including Totti.

Has anyone else seen that after they were bought by nice new foreign owners. How nice that must be. It goes to show that when clubs fall into the hands of foreign owners there is nothing they can't do. After the rumours of Di Benedetto wanting to change the Roma crest, who's to say he won't want to change the name, too? He could easily do it, but it'll be ok as long as he buys lots of new players for us, right?

Chewna, would you prefer Montella stays on as manager instead of getting Ancelotti? I don't know, I think I'd prefer Ancelotti purely for his experience. Another name being mentioned is Gasperini. He he'll be back in management next season but it wouldn't be right to say where yet. I think he's a good coach and we could do worse.

[maro]

Wouldn't selling Vooch resolve some of our problems? Getting rid of an over-rated, goal-shy, not-quite-winger, not-quite-striker, not-quite-second-forward sulk for a few bob sounds like good business to me. The club shouldn't sell its best players, certainly, but there's no reason not to get rid of some of the dead wood if we get a reasonable offer for them.

[RomaShield27]

Do you really believe that? I thought you said you wouldn't sell him, even for a figure of €25m?

[maro]

That was when I was trying to get your vote to make me an admin.

[maro]

Do I believe what? That Vooch is over-rated? That he's goal-shy? Or that he's not-quite-a-winger, not-quite-a-striker, not-quite-a-second-forward?

[ASR1927]

[Jamoldo]

[DavidP]

[romawi]

[maro]

That video is hilarious. Vooch is singlehandedly trying to keep us out of the CL next season.

[ASR1927]

From football-italia:

Hernandez-Roma rumours 'are true'

“There is some foundation” to rumours Roma are interested in Abel Hernandez, said the Palermo striker’s agent.
The Uruguayan has impressed this season in Sicily and scored a brace when the Rosanero recently won 3-2 at the Stadio Olimpico.

“There is some foundation to those Roma rumours,” representative Vincenzo D’Ippolito told Generazioneditalenti.com.

“That would be especially true if, and this seems to be the case, former Palermo director of sport Walter Sabatini will join the Giallorossi.

“There is interest from some of the top clubs in Italy and Europe, while he already had plenty of offers last season.

“We’ll see what happens. All we know for certain is that Hernandez has a contract until June 2013 and is very happy in Palermo.

“He has improved thanks to the experience in Sicily and could stay there for another couple of years before making the definitive step up. However, you never know in football...”

[djw1992]

Just think, this time next year, we could all be about to sit down and watch Roma in the Champions League semis...

[ASR1927]

[ASR1927]

For Edzo:

Mirko Vucinic will stay at Roma - agent
Agent claims Vucinic will stay at Trigoria despite Italian reports linking him with an end of season exit

By Salvatore Landolina
Apr 26, 2011 4:00:00 PM

Roma striker Mirko Vucinic looks set to remain at the club after his agent gave no clear indication he would leave.

His response comes in the wake of reports linking the 27-year-old Montenegrin with an exit following a less than perfect season in the capital.

He has scored just nine goals in 29 games and has been on the receiving end of some harsh treatment from Roma fans who have become increasingly sceptical over his time at the club.

However, agent Alessandro Lucci firmly believes his client has no reason to leave, and said his future was clear, not hazy as suggested by reports in Italy which linked him with Napoli and Inter.

"Vucinic is tranquil on his future which is at Roma. He is staying at Roma," Lucci told Radio Mana Mana.

"There are no problems and he will not be sold in June."

Roma are sixth in Serie A following their 1-0 win over Chievo in which Vucinic played, but did not score.

[vtec]

[DavidP]

Beautiful, just beautiful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTgBz_L0 ... e=youtu.be

[red]

What was that dope doing dallying on the ball at the edge of his own box at 1:40?

Ball should have been walloped into touch.

[ASR1927]

Seems the new owners agree with Edzo.

Roma to offer Vucinic new deal

One of the first moves Roma's new owners plan to make is to offer Mirko Vucinic a new contract, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The 27-year-old Montenegro international has cut a disgruntled figure this season and even told Rosella Sensi in January that he was considering his future.

However, the latest comments from his agent Alessandro Lucci indicate that he is prepared to stay at the club amid interest from the Premiershit.

Roma's new director of sport Walter Sabatini is keen to keep hold of Vucinic and will apparently offer the striker a renewal with a pay rise.

If Vucinic were to sign, it would also protect his value should Roma choose to sell in the future.