THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[Italiamia]

[pocari_fenrir]

i think Vucinic can be replaced with Podolski and Olympiakos are looking at Pizarro. i believe we asked for Torosidis in exchange, same mold as Isla. keep Crescenzi as LB 2nd option, i like that alot

[RomaShield27]

[Deini]

Thats what every player is saying about himself during the transfer window. But he is out. Same goes for a few other players... Baldini and Sabatini gonna clean the locker room by throwing out the rotten apples.

[Italiamia]

I'm expecting a foreign manager with foreign team and I won't be watching. Ancelotti has really pissed me off.

[pocari_fenrir]

Shield, regardless if Vucinic leaves, i think Podolski would be a good sub or replacement for Menez, who is clearly displeased. I also dont want to swap Pizarro either as i feel that it is easier to entertain the option to sign Isla instead. You have to admit though, Vucinic really has to get the devil off his back, be it through Totti's play or new tactics from whoever is to coach us next season

Italiamia, i thought you already conceded that you wouldnt be watching now that we have foreign ownership too

Also, anyone notice Luis Enrique looks like a troll?? (assuming the some of you know what that means)

[Purple Hellequin]

Apparently Corvino has contacted Vucinic

[loazzi]

[RomaShield27]

De Rossi: It’s an outrage!
– Friday 3 June, 2011

Daniele De Rossi has expressed his anger and amazement after his name was mentioned in relation to the match-fixing betting probe. The Roma midfielder, despite not being one of the 16 people arrested or even one of those placed under investigation, woke up this morning to find his name associated with the scandal.

"I am outraged,” he told Italian news agency ANSA on Friday. “False references have been made about me regarding a situation that I have nothing to do with at all. It’s my intention to underline all my indignation at what appeared in some newspapers and, indeed, which was immediately contradicted by authoritative judicial sources.

“I am completely unrelated to this story. There have been references made to myself which were completely false and invented. For this reason I will protect my image and my integrity in court against anyone who will associate my name to this story. I have nothing to add.”

It has been claimed that De Rossi’s name was mentioned in some intercepted calls by people who were boasting about their ability to allegedly fix games. However, there is absolutely no evidence that De Rossi was involved in the alleged betting ring or indeed has done anything illegal. Police and prosecutors examining the case have also confirmed that De Rossi is not under investigation for any wrongdoing.

[RomaShield27]

Proof that cg916, aka Chris, still visits here to drink from our cooly collected fountain of class calcio knowledge . He basically just copies me. In fact I am Chris. And Maro. And Aba. And the Batman. But for serio:

"The majority of rumors seem to focus on Pastore-type mancrushes which are frankly more Catholic priest-on-altar boy than anything remotely legal, when last year the defense was an absolute shambles (statistical definition), they lost their best defender and are now stuck with Juan, who is a Selecao callup from consumption, malaria and polio simultaneously, and Nico Burdisso, who has legal representation on retainer, for central defense. So right now, CBs 3 & 4 are the starting fullbacks. Does no one else see this as slightly problematic? I mean, it’s June, but come on. Throw me a freakin’ bone."

Also, as you would expect, lots of people coming out in support of De Rossi against these ridiculous claims that he's someway involved in this betting scandal, including the mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno: "I called Daniele to express my personal solidarity and that of the capital. Daniel is a legacy of Roman sports, society and the Italian nation. Mentioning his name in these dirty scandals saddens the world of sport and is wrong and totally inappropriate."

http://www.forzaroma.info/rassegna-stam ... ieler.html
http://www.romanews.eu/2011/06/04/airc- ... -de-rossi/

The Guardian have a piece about in pictures, and say that a certain Ricky Alvarez has "been deployed both in midfield and as a second striker"

[forzaitalia]

Vucinic was linked with a £12m move to Tottenham in one paper today, despite his dodgy form especially towards the end of last season I hope he stays. Losing Vucinic, after Mexes, wouldn't be the best start to the summer if we're trying to progress when it's players like Taddei etc that should be sold.

[ASR1927]

Somewhat interesting post from over on the offside. (I know hard to believe.) He's probably full of shit but then what in the "real" press isn't when it doesn't have a stamp of "official" on it? Right? Plus he needs to learn where to use caps.


Posted by,
Ars_Dicendi 7 hours ago
I've been a long time reader of this blog, and I have to say that I'm a bit dissapointed about this skeptical/pessimistic drift from readers and, in part, from chris. Being an "half-insider" of the new roma's ownership (via their current italian PR company), I had the luck to gain access to several intels which I would like to share to reassure the most skeptics and cheer up the trustfuls.


1) Manager: L.E. is the new AS Roma's coach. He has signed a preliminary contract last week, and today he basically confirmed that he will move to roma alongside with his staff. L.E. has been expressely requested by Franco Baldini, who has been very upset recently cause luis' name percolated to the press.

Franco Baldini is not Marotta, is not Tare, is not Braida. He is Franco Baldini. Arguably the finest brain roma has ever had. And unquestionably the most clever "uomo di calcio" in italy. One of the most influent, esteemed and competent football executives in europe. Not to mention his moral qualities, which are proverbial amongst old-school roma fans. Just the fact that there's Baldini behind this choice SHOULD QUIET DOWN ANY ROMA FAN, even the most skeptical/pessimist.

Now speaking of L.E. himself: I will not write a detailed screed about his competences, achievements or whatsoever. Anyone could gather those infos via a web search. What is dear to my hearth is to let you know that we are not talking about the spanish version of Ficcadenti: this chap has been called by both atletico and siviglia for a first team employement (which has been both refused by luis). Atletico and Siviglia. Not properly low-table team, if you ask me.

So what? Are atletico and siviglia gm's both retarded (like baldini)?
Do they both run out of money?
Do they are masochist?

Nope. They just recognize his skills and competences as a coach. They just trust a coaching school like the barcelona's one, which has churned out people like mourinho, villas boas, guardiola, koeman, de boer in the last 15 years.

Yup, they do so. Just like Franco does.

2) Transfer market: "wtf, we are in june and not even a new signing? or the new coach?"

Yeah, it would have been better to have Rossella instead, with her shameless creative accounting and 19-30-of-31-august extremis signings. Or it would have been better to have Angelucci instead, a berlusconi-esque swindler who would have used ASR as a shield for his legal issues. Or it would have been better to have noone, translated = GO BANKRUPT.

Seriously now: Sabatini is working. He's working since novemember really: he didnt' leave palermo for "personal problems", but because Dibe guaranteed him a slot in the club (and a large wage, I'd say). He made like 40 round trip flies to argentina, cile and uruguay in the last months. He has been in touch with the most influent players' agents in south america. He talked several times with josè lamela. And last but not least, he bought ricky alvarez 8-9 days ago.

Question time: which team in italy already made some real signing? I'll answer you: juventus. Pazienza, Ziegler and Pirlo. And lazio: klose. All free agents. So if noone havn't bought anyone yet, what's the fucking point of screaming like bitches because roma hasn't make a signing yet?

Oh yes, it's obvious.

"Dibenedetto straccione! Mortacci tua nun c'hai na lira! Te ne dovevi da stattene a casa!"

Back to the serious topic: roma locked 5/6 players in the past weeks. The bulk of the market has been done during april/may, some players are de facto ours (like ricky), others are with a foot in rome (balzaretti) and both sabatini and baldini have been and still are under heavy negotiations with the agents of guys like lamela, sandro and van der wiel. Next week dibe and co will probably host a press conference introducing the coach and possibly few signings.

The only "hindrance" is represented by Unicredit, who has put a little spoke in our weel; but this won't have any consequence for what concerns the market, since a delegate has been chosen to take care of the financial transactions.



Conclusion: QUIET DOWN. There's no need to be worried. We are in safe hands, and that means in baldini's (nothing to add about him) and sabatini's (a man who's widely regarded as the best director of football in italy and one of the biggest experts of south-american football worldwide; a man who bought hernandez, pastore and ililic for 10 M€ as a whole). Also, there's nothing wrong with the market not brightening up because 1)we are just at the beginning, and noone started buying player worldwide 2)several targets will get the euro passport next month, so we can't technically move for them OFFICIALLY 3)our management is on the move since 6-7 months.


Have faith. Forza Roma.

[romawi]

Good to read that we've made some progress because things have been getting a little frustrating. Again, I don't know much about LE, but I hope he has a hand in the signings. I would like to see our coach be able to build the team he wants rather than be handed players and be asked to work with what he's given.

Finally, who are these 5/6 players that we've locked up?

[Lupa]

Francesco Totti has revealed he expects a lot at Roma from the new owners, Thomas Di Benedetto and other American investors.

Er Pupone is hoping from a great deal of investment from the American owners and would like a Champions League title before he hangs up his boots.

“I hope for a great Roma side that can win at international level as well as in Italy,” Totti told RMC.

“The economic situation is the most important thing for a club. The Americans can do a lot for us and I expect a great deal from them.

“Of course, it’s also up to us to give back what the club owners provide. I hope the new stadium can be constructed before I hang up my boots.

“I certainly wouldn’t throw the Scudetto away if I won that, but the Champions League is the only trophy I haven’t won. If I win that, then I can retire.”

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2011/06 ... ectations/

I guess Totti doesn't count the Europa cup ...

[forzaitalia]

Go on Totti you legend!

[Italiamia]

Luis Enrique is the new coach.

[p_maldini_3]

in other news, maro actually cares. you can see the splooge from all the way over here.

[maro]

Perhaps Ancelotti's reluctance to return tells you something about the standing and the culture of Italian football at the moment? This piece might offer some support for the idea that he doesn't want to begin a project with the club; I suspect, though, that there are a few other reasons behind his unwillingness to return to calcio at this point.

Was I not the one who first wondered why on earth we'd take a punt on Enrique rather than on our own young coach, mk?

Ancelotti: "Mi fermo un anno. E' ancora presto per allenare la Roma"
Lunedì 06 Giugno 2011 10:43

(La Stampa-P.Brusorio) Ha sciolto il proprio contratto con il Chelsea, ma una delle clausole è non parlarne: Carlo Ancelotti è un allenatore libero di ruolo e di fatto, un licenziamento a tanti zeri, però, ha regole ben precise.

Domenica mattina, in partenza per Londra, tanto per non perdere l'abitudine: a terra lascia una mezza bugia sulla Juve e l'ultimo scandalo del calcio italiano. Si comincia da qui.

Che cosa pensa di quest'inchiesta?
«Sto nel calcio da 30 anni, sono notizie brutte, spiacevoli. Spero di no, ma temo che sia tutto vero».

Nella rete è finito Signori, uno che lei conosce bene.
«Sono rimasto allibito. È un ragazzo serio, mi dispiace molto vederlo in questa situazione».

Per Paolo Rossi, coinvolto nello scandalo dell'80, è inevitabile che ciclicamente il calcio finisca sott'inchie sta: troppi interessi. D'accordo?
«Fuor di dubbio che girino tanti soldi, ma non è inevitabile. Le scommesse trent'anni fa, poi Calciopoli e ora questa nuova bufera: solo in Italia così tanti scandali ravvicinati. Il nostro calcio non godeva di ottima salute, di quest'altra mazzata non se ne sentiva il bisogno. Riprendersi non sarà facile».

Un simile scandalo in Inghilterra sarebbe stato possibile?
«No. E non perché non girino soldi, ma la cultura è diversa, il risultato non è tutto. Esistono e resistono altri valori, quelli che tengono lontano certi personaggi».

Allora Inghilterra for ever?
«No, io mi sento italiano fino in fondo, ma questa esperienza mi è piaciuta...».

Tanto da cercare un'altra squadra? Fulham, Aston Villa: ne restano poche ormai.
«No, tanto da tornare a Londra e da lì organizzarmi la vita. Tranne una parentesi di sei mesi, alleno di fila dal ‘95: mi fermo un anno e mi guardo in giro, mi aggiorno, studio come lavorano i colleghi».

Ancelotti non allenerà l'anno prossimo, lo scriviamo?
«Sì. Non ho fretta né l'esigenza».

Lei al posto di Wenger all'Arsenal: impossibile?
«Mai stato contattato da alcuna squadra inglese».

Niente Roma nemmeno a questo giro: non si fidava degli americani?
«Non ho mai parlato con nessuno di loro. Il resto è frutto della fantasia. Un giorno allenerò la Roma, l'ho sempre detto e lo ripeto, ma è ancora presto. E non per colpa degli americani».

Capitolo Juve: Marotta l'ha cercata prima di Conte e lei ha detto no per vecchie ruggini.
«Falso. Mai sentito la Juve. Con Andrea Agnelli ho sempre avuto un ottimo rapporto, se avesse voluto mi avrebbe trovato».

Ma avrebbe allenato la Juve o quella ferita, due secondi posti e finale con insulti dalla curva, è ancora aperta?
«Per fortuna o purtroppo il tempo cancella tutto. La società mi tutelò fino a quando decise di cambiare. Al di là dell'astio di una parte della tifoseria, non ci sono mai stati problemi».

Hanno scelto Conte. È stato anche il capitano della sua Juve, sorpreso di ritrovarlo allenatore?
«Per nulla. Antonio appartiene al gruppo di giocatori con un talento medio, ma con grandi qualità tattiche. Altrimenti non avrebbe potuto giocare nella Juventus. In più sente quella maglia, è perfetto per trasmettere certi valori».

Aspettative e sangue bianconero: non rischia di bruciarsi?
«Ha fatto la gavetta giusta. E il cuore farà la differenza».

Quanto può aiutarlo un giocatore come Pirlo?
«Conosco Andrea come le mie tasche. Ha avuto qualche problema fisico la scorsa stagione, ma è tra i migliori al mondo».

E allora perché il Milan l'ha ceduto?
«Lui voleva un contratto più lungo a certe condizioni, il Milan non era disposto a farglielo. Un divorzio consensuale».

Di chi è l'affare?
«Della Juve che si è portata a casa un campione e di Pirlo che guadagnerà molti soldi».

Conte alla Juve, Luis Enrique alla Roma: impera il guardiolismo o sta cambiando generazione anche in Italia.
«Sbaglia strada chi è convinto di poter ripetere l'esperimento Guardiola lontano da Barcellona. Là funziona perché tutto parte dal settore giovanile. E hanno pazienza».

Tre giocatori che, se comprati, cambiano una squadra?
«Facile. Messi, Ronaldo... La verità è un'altra: oggi a fare la differenza è la fase difensiva degli attaccanti. Guardate quello che fa Rooney. O Messi, a disposizione degli altri».

A proposito: si può giocare meglio del Barcellona?
«No. Hanno una marcia in più rispetto a tutti».

Difesa e aggressività: è l'antidoto di Mourinho.
«Vero. Oppure bisogna aspettare. Il calcio è ciclico, un giorno anche il Barça perderà».

[maro]

Oh, and if it is to be Enrique, I have to apologise for not having spent time and energy ruminating as to whether Ancelotti or Pioli or Deschamps would be the best man for the job.

[maro]