THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[romawi]

There better be a good reason for why Totti is on the bench.

[RomaShield27]

Its a bit of a surprise alright Chewna. He's in good form at the moment and I would have expected him to start ahead of Borriello. Jamie (I think) made a good point over on RA, in that it could be Totti's last ever chance to play in the CL.

[Italiamia]

[romawi]

Official: Roma end Adriano contract
Roma and Adriano have formally agreed to terminate their contract “by mutual consent” after a series of problems.

The club released a statement this evening confirming that “we reached an agreement to terminate the contract by mutual consent in advance, as its natural expiry was on June 30, 2013.”

Negotiations with L’Imperatore’s agent had been going on for several days after the player repeatedly postponed his return from Brazil.

Once in Rome, Adriano then failed to turn up for a medical, prompting director Gian Paolo Montali to call him “indefensible and unprofessional.”

The former Inter striker is expected to return to Brazil, where is said to have several offers.

He only joined the Giallorossi over the summer, having terminated his last contract with Inter due to similar issues.
============================================
So that's the end of that little experiment.

[RomaShield27]

About time we ended Fatdriano's contract. What a joke he was. He never looked liked he was even trying to lose some weight. Its a pity for him, as well, as it was his last chance at the top level. Rosella's 'gamble' certainly didn't pay off – I wonder if she still considers him a "champion"?

[Italiamia]

[aba_bab]

well.. at least the omens look good... Pakistan got walloped in cricket by a Australia Jr. (New Zealand)

Pretty disgusting.. but it bodes well for la magica.. having said that, i'm gonna take a pass on this game.. i don't have the mental energy to watch this one

[RomaShield27]

Can't find any indication of Totti picking up a knock or anything like that so its probably just a tactical decision from Montella to go with Borriello. I wonder if he was tempted at all to go with the three of them upfront, or even Totti as trequartista? Unlikely, I know, but what the fekk like. I guess he wants more movement up front and for us to press them higher up the pitch. But Totti is in fine form at the moment, so, its a big call. If we can keep it tight and perhaps nic one or two, it'd be nice to bring Totti on at some stage to inspire us.

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

Why do we have such terrible, terrible, horrible indiscipline? Its pathetic and horrible to see. Fair enough, we went behind when we probably didn't deserve too and Mexes was harshly sent-off, but so what, its not excuse whatsoever to lose your head and start acting the maggot. Mexes with his petulant and lazy kick off, De Rossi with that disgusting elbow (Srna is a prick, but still), Borriello with a dirty disgusting late-kick (again on Srna), and generally just a horrible all round attitude to losing and no professionalism whatsover.

All that, it has to be said, on top of actually playing quite well in the opening part of the game, right up until they scored completely against the run of play. On another night, we may well of won this game, but still, it doesn't excuse the way we carried on. Things need to change. A lot of things.

[maro]

I don't share your sense of the two Srna incidents, fredzo. I thought the boys battled quite hard and kept going pretty well. Across the two legs we gave two absolute gifts of goals away, missed a penalty, and lost a player for 50 minutes to a pretty harsh red card. One doesn't win CL knockout ties doing this regardless of anything else.

[RomaShield27]

What? De Rossi's elbow? What is your sense of that, then, exactly? I love De Rossi, my heart sank when I seen a replay of what he done, I will have to face up to a lot of slagging to defend him, but I will defend him and still consider him to be a real inspirational and heroic player, but what he done was just cowardly and disgusting. How can that even be disputed? Borriello's kick was even worse. Look at the replay. It was disgraceful. We were unlucky over the two-legs, no one can deny that and I have said it myself several times, but we lose without any pride and not a shred of dignity.

[maro]

As I say, I see the two incidents differently; that should be enough. Besides, I've been up since 5 and so I'm too tired to expand or explain. At least Totti wasn't on the pitch. Imagine how much worse the discipline would have been then.

[vtec]

you probably won't have much defending to do, ed. odds are they all were watching the barse game, and most ucl highlights are only allowed to show the goals

[ASR1927]

I am still trying to come up with something to say about the game.
Another frustrating loss over two legs. Going into this I knew we had a mountain to climb. Blahhhh. After Mexes was sent off it was a shambles and yes I am embarrassed. All the petulance, the elbow, the kick by Borriello. There's battling and there is losing your head. This team needs big changes. Gio was right in the SB. Roma will be a different team next season. All we can do now is hope for 4th place.

[Lupa]

[ASR1927]

[ASR1927]

Lucescu: 'Roma are unprofessional'


Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu blasted Roma as “unprofessional, even though I told Darijo Srna off for making fun of the Italians.”
The Ukrainians emerged 3-0 winners in Donetsk, 6-2 on aggregate, after an ill-tempered game in which Philippe Mexes was sent off.

Daniele De Rossi deserved to go as well when he was caught on camera elbowing Srna in the face, then Srna was the recipient of some crunching tackles from Marco Borriello and Simone Perrotta.

“The Roma players were tense and too rough,” said Lucescu. “Srna was wrong and I told him off for making fun of the Italians after our goal. I got angry at half-time and told him if he did that again, he’d be replaced.

“Having said that, Roma’s reaction was unprofessional.”

Shakhtar also won 3-2 at the Olimpico, so the Giallorossi had very few chances of qualifying.

“I knew the team would play good football, as we did during the group phase. I knew Roma’s strength and we got an important result, especially as they started very well here.

“After the goal we gained in enthusiasm and they got irritable, so Mexes was sent off. Obviously with the extra man we dominated and scored another two.”

Lucescu is familiar with Serie A, having worked as a Coach at Pisa, Brescia, Reggiana and Inter.

“It’s difficult to say what the difference was between the sides, but perhaps Roma did not take us very seriously ahead of the first leg. They conceded a goal that a big club simply cannot give away.

“I look at Italian teams in Europe and I am astounded when I see clubs signing 32-year-olds. It’s true they are responsible and experienced, but younger players have a very different type of enthusiasm and fitness.

“It’s harder work dealing with young players, but much more satisfying when it works out.”

[ASR1927]

Montella: 'Pizarro had penalty duties'



Vincenzo Montella confirmed Marco Borriello was not Roma’s designated penalty taker in Donetsk when his effort was saved.
David Pizarro scored the spot-kick in Lecce on Friday despite an argument with his teammate, then Borriello’s was parried during the 3-0 defeat to Shakhtar.

“I always designate the penalty taker before a game. Both at Lecce and tonight it was Pizarro, but anyone who plays football knows that at times a player really feels it,” explained Montella.

“Pizarro allowed him to step up without a problem. I feel bad for Marco, so next time I’ll just take the penalty!”

Qualification was already difficult after Claudio Ranieri’s side lost 3-2 on home turf, but after Borriello’s penalty was saved, Philippe Mexes saw red.

“Before the game I asked the lads to be consistent and improve aside from the result. In that respect I’m happy, as until we went a man down, we created a great deal and had a good approach towards a fine squad.

“We had five or six shots on goal in the first half, then the red card changed everything. In any case, I have promised not to talk about referees.”

The officials were, if anything, lenient towards Roma. Daniele De Rossi could face a trial using video evidence after he was caught on camera elbowing Darijo Srna, while Borriello and Simone Perrotta also ran risks with crunching tackles on the same player.

“In all honesty, I didn’t see the elbow at the time. We must try to keep our heads in the game and not be swept up in emotion,” continued Montella.

“It can happen sometimes, but must not become the norm. I got angry with my players for getting pointless bookings and losing their heads.

“Shakhtar contributed to the tense atmosphere, but the important thing is to stay within limits. We should always leave the field with our heads held high. In terms of football, at least, we could do that tonight.

“When I took over, the team lost determination during negative moments. Instead today we were always solid and mustn’t be downhearted, as we are on the right track.”

Roma immediately have a very tough test, as this weekend they face Lazio in the Derby della Capitale.