THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[maro]

Milan are awful; I got told off by SP for observing this last night. They deserve the Scudetto because they've been the best of a poor lot this season, but their style of football, their lack of pace from midfield, their defensive approach, their overall lack of quality are the perfect illustration of the poverty of Serie A this season.

thredzzo, thinking Monty may have made a mistake last night is hardly the same thing as saying he's "out of his depth" and doesn't have what it takes to coach at this level and is fundamentally deficient in tactical awareness etc. etc. So yes, I do disagree with you about Monty, though given the chance again I'm not sure he'd do exactly the same things again. I have no idea whether Monty will have what it takes to be a successful manager - though I suspect the safer money would be to bet against him; I just don't share your reading of what was at stake in the way things unfolded last night.

For one thing, he didn't change the shape - he changed it as little as he could if at all: the 4-4-1-1, which is what you seem to want to call it, is almost identical to the 4-2-3-1, or certainly the way we seemed to be supposed to be playing it last night it was. Playing Vooch as the trequartista was a big gamble - he's played there once before for us: 7-1 at Old Trafford. And after that match Spags had one or two comments which suggested he was rather disappointed in the shift Vooch had put in for the team.

So, secondly, the alternative would presumably have been to have brought Greco on or to have played Taddei through the middle with Rosi down the right. I would have gone with Greco, but this would have left us with an incredibly lightweight central midfield and had we been over-run people would have chuntered that replacing a ball-winner and 'runner' with a more technical player was tactically naive. The same thing would have applied to bringing Menez on and pushing Simplicio deeper - this, too, I would like to have seen, but one can readily see why he decided not to opt for this. So instead he replaced one of his hard-working players of 'corsa', as Spags liked to describe them, with another, hoping that way he could keep the balance of the team right. Did it work? That's an interesting question; had Totti not overhit that pass to Borriello in the last five minutes the pundits would probably be championing Monty for what he managed to squeeze out of the match.

Thirdly, it was quite clear that in the build-up to the game Monty was thinking quite seriously of going to a 4-4-2 anyway - without DDR and Simone, two players for whom the 4-2-3-1 system has the advantage that they know it instinctively and wanting to get Borriello involved after his performance last week. So I suspect they did a fair bit of practice with Rosi and Taddei down the wings. The reason he didn't go for this from the start, I'm sure, is that he said earlier in the week that Totti could certainly play with Borriello, but then he'd have to play slightly further down the pitch, and that you get the very most out of Totti when he's playing as the centreforward. This was clearly also in his mind when he decided to get Vooch to play behind Totti rather than the other way round. I presume the training with Rosi and Taddei down the wings also influenced his decision not to bring Rosi on and tuck Taddei inside, which is what Spags would have done, I think.

Coaches get things right and they get things wrong; what matters more, to my mind, is the logic behind the decisions they make. Monty's response was hardly the only one to take, but it seemed to me his thinking was clear-headed and quite explicable.

I don't know that I was criticising Vooch, actually - I was simply making the point that towards the end of the first half it looked like we'd gone to a true 4-4-2, but Monty's comments suggest that this wasn't the coach's tactical shift but a function of the way Vooch was interpreting (had forgotten) his role. One certainly could criticise a player for a lack of tactical discipline and a lack of work-rate, though one could also make excuses on the basis that it was an unfamiliar role. For instance, I'm sure Vooch doesn't have the legs to play 90 minutes the way Perrotta does - he has other strengths, after all. I should be surprised if he didn't have the legs to play 60 minutes like that, or 50, or 30, or however many it would be. I think I could play a few minutes Perrotta-style. And so if the coach asks you to do this, you run yourself into the ground and then you go and have an early shower. So no doubt one could criticise Vooch for the shift he put in given the circumstances, though this wasn't actually my point.

[vtec]

considering how you were calling allegri out for a lack of balls in the 0-0 away draw at tottenham, you are being very lenient to montella for not doing more to win in what was effectively an equivalent situation. milan had no need to go for anything more than a draw; roma did. that said, i didn't really expect consistency; just pointing out its absence.

and yes, this is a poor milan team that is best in a very poor serie a. i have said it before, but the germans took that fourth cl spot most deservedly. calcio fans need to stop comparing their league to the premiershit, but aim at the bundesliga instead.

[maro]

I don't really mean to be being especially lenient on Monty - though I did wonder if -que might accuse me of this. I don't think Monty's shown all that much decisively good or decisively bad since he's taken over. The one thing he has shown is conceptual clarity in his organisation and selection. My sense is that there's little I find I can read into what we've seen over the past couple of months in terms of properly judging him hence my resistance to thredzzo's comments last night.

Clearly you're misremembering the nature of my comments after Bilan's CL defeat, though I presume that's deliberate.

The comparison with the Spurs game is muddy. If we take 6 points from our next two games and iIf Udinese beat Nazio today and then lose to Bilan on the final weekend, then Monty will be able to consider this a decisive point won. I'm not saying that's the kind of calculation he did make or should have made - and clearly there are plenty of people who would criticise him if he was thinking in such terms; all I'm saying is that it complicates the comparison a bit.

[AlCapone]

If Udinese win today it's all in our hands.

I don't think Montella was that bad yesterday. I would love to add more but my ink is dry after the discussions over at RA. I should've saved myself, but always stupid enough to fall for temptation of posting. Shield, can you ban me?

[RomaShield27]

I don't think its quite fair to say that if we had of scored late on with Totti's pass to Borriello then we'd all be congratulating Monty for a great performance. Shutting up shop in a home game from such an early stage and hoping to hit them with a late counter is not exactly a tactical masterclass. Milan had umpteen more chances and more possession to us and really we were quite fortunate not to concede. My point is more the reasoning behind the making of such a decision to be so negative and not giving ourselves more of a chance late on by having an extra forward on the field. We needed the win quite badly yet Montella didn't go for it an opted to play it safe. You can't really blame him for that I suppose but I have to wonder if a more experienced coach would have had a bit more know-how and insight to put us in a position to win.

Montella has impressed me since he's taken over and he has shown greater professionalism than I expected and done a steady job, but I still don't think he has the tactical knowledge yet to be our full time manager. He had been consistent in his approach up until last nights game when he switched to a system which he admitted he never tried before in a game when we need to gain three valuable points. I can't agree that he didn't change the shape of the side all that much: it was pretty clear for all to see how isolated Borriello and Totti were in the second-half with no wingers pushing on or no profondita coming through the middle (yet lots of it sitting on the bench), and having the four across the middle sitting as deep as they did made it impossible for Totti to really get on the ball and make us tick. I feel it could of been different if Montella had a little more balls, but there ya go.


COMUNICATO ROMA INFORTUNIO BRIGHI

Ecco il comunicato apparso sul sito ufficiale della squadra giallorossa sulle condizioni di Matteo Brighi:

“L’AS Roma rende nto che il calciatore MATTEO BRIGHI, a seguito del trauma contusivo della gamba destra riportato nella gara di campionato A.S. Roma – A.C. Milan, è stato sottoposto nella tarda serata di ieri e nella mattinata di oggi agli accertamenti diagnostici di rito.Gli esami strumentali hanno evidenziato una frattura del terzo prossimale diafisario del perone destro, che non necessita di correzione chirurgica, ma di trattamento esclusivamente conservativo.”

(asroma.it)

[RomaShield27]

[maro]

By "pundits" I meant media pundits.

He changed the shape when Borriello came on - to one they had been working on during the week. He didn't change the shape for the first 55 minutes.

We had much the better chances in the first half and even in the second had Totti got that not all that difficult pass to Borriello right or that cross made it through to Simplicio, we'd have had two more absolutely gilt-edged chances.

[AlCapone]

Udinese win is a must. If Udinese win we can finish above Lazio by winning our remaining two games. I expect Udinese to drop points against either Chievo or Milan. A draw is enough for us if we win both of our games. Greater chances of Udinese dropping points than Lazio.

Remember, Lotito's task force is one to watch out for too! Lol

[RomaShield27]

I don't think it looks to promising for us. Thats why I think it was so crucial that we went for the win last night. Udinese are 2-0 now and all over Lazio – its funny how they keep trying to play the offside trap against such a fast Udinese side – so if that outcome remains the same they'll be two points ahead of us, and I think they'd have a good shot at winning their last two games. Chievo (a) have nothing to play, likewise Milan – plus they have the Coppa Italia final a few days after the Udinese game, so may rest players. Regardless, all this having to rely on others is disappointing since we had the chance to go ahead in the race last night.

[maro]

This is cute:
http://www.forzaroma.info/rassegna-stam ... n-rer.html

For all that football likes to go on about its being a global sport and how it's glitzier and slicker than Panucci's hair, really it's just full of little kids and provincialism and so much the better for that.

[San Paolo]

Trigoria Update: The group session consistent of technical & tactical exercises, short sided games and finished with a practice game, Rosi trained separately, Cassetti & J.Sergio worked in the gym and both Mexes & Brighi were absent.

[RomaShield27]

Thanks for posting that, Grego. But why are suddenly taking an interest in Roma's training?! Something to do with about Mexes, perhaps? This makes me sad.

Thats cool about Richard Whittle, Tom. Totti always takes the times to meet with his fans and is always patient and kind which is nice to see, and like you said he is just a big kid at heart. Its one of his most endearing qualities. That and being able to pull off a cucchiaio with his eyes closed.

[San Paolo]

not at all Ed, Deano posted it on Twitter and thought you guys might have found it a little interesting to see what your boys were doing in training.

[San Paolo]

Just had a report sent to me that Roma have signed Pastore, will be back with more info if i find anything else out

Edit
Pastore, €30m. earning €1.5m in wages.

[maro]

Mexes can fuck off. I've never really rated the cunt, to be honest.
http://www.forzaroma.info/rassegna-stam ... exesq.html

[RomaShield27]

I posted a link to that link above, Thomo: "Something to do with Allegri's words about Mexes, perhaps". Not a good day.

Grego, seen that , but I have to say it looks like just more mere mercato madness at this stage, although it does go into some detail. Apparently Guillermo Burdisso is a close friend of Pastore and he says he wants to join Roma, and of course it mentions the arrival of Sabatini at Roma from Palermo and how his connections can make the deal happen, and also that we'll include a couple of young players in the deal, namely Caprari and Greco, which I wouldn't like to see happen.

lol, seen headline on the Guardian and i burst out laughing: The Beast is back as Júlio Baptista leads Málaga to the brink of safety – Júlio Baptista is back terrifying defenders and scoring goals — and Málaga are reaping the rewards

EDIT: lmao, it gets better: Baptista has eight goals in 827 minutes – a record that only Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi can better.

[pocari_fenrir]

[RomaShield27]

I don't think we've officially seal a deal for Sabatini to join us, Pocari, but I fink there's like a gentleman's agreement or somesuchas in place which will see him join Roma at the end of the season.

Vucinic out for the Coppa return-leg tomorrow (thigh strain), so with Totti suspended our options are a bit short up top. Borriello will lead the line, but I wonder if Menez will get the nod or will he be left out again? Or will Caprari start? Will be interestin hy. Cassetti is also out.

Convocati per Milano: ci sono anche Vucinic e Cassetti
– Martedì 10 Maggio 2011 13:11


Questa la lista dei giocatori convocati da mister Vincenzo Montella per la partita Inter-Roma di domani sera alle 20.45.
LOBONT
CASTELLINI
JUAN
PIZARRO
VUCINIC
LORIA
DE ROSSI
RIISE
PERROTTA
BORRIELLO
GRECO
G.BURDISSO
N.BURDISSO
SIMPLICIO
JULIO SERGIO
DONI
ANTEI
FLORENZI
CAPRARI
CASSETTI
ROSI
MENEZ



Interesting vid of a team photo with Mexes joining in. Not sure why we were doing a team photo at this time, though:

[pocari_fenrir]

it will be the photo of the team that wins Coppa this season

anyways, to make light of whatever we've squabbled this season, i present to you some soccer highlights that have no relevance to Roma other than your enjoyment
http://www.thescore.com/buzz/articles/1 ... e-bloopers

[AlCapone]

Here's an article about our trip to Rome last month, written by DonSimon from the addicts board for asroma.no

http://www.asroma.no/2011/05/11/roma-cl ... pril-2011/