THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[maro]

I did think this was quite funny, though:
http://www.calciomercato.com/altre-noti ... mpo-752134
No-one can accuse God of lacking a sense of humour.

[Lupa]

[red]

[juventino_italiano]

[forzaitalia]

In the early stages of the Europa League the games seem a bit pointless, especially when there's so many almost every Thursday night, but no way do I want to go out this early.

After criticising Palermo for going out last round (probably to a better team as well), it would be embarassing to go out here.

Thankfully, I think we'll be okay and we'll go through. It may be a bit like when we drew 3-3 with Kosice in one of Spalletti's final matches, then Totti destroyed them back in Roma.

[RomaShield27]

I missed all the action yesterday (nor even seen any match reports), but disappointing result. I can't say I'm surprised, though, given how our pre-season has gone and the players we have in our back-line. So, have we signed Kjaer yet, lads...?

I agree with Red and JI regarding the Europa League. Its the same old Italian mentality that we see with competitions like the Europe League and the Coppa Italia, that they just don't matter and aren't important to a clubs season (look at Palermo). Its an archaic and old-fashioned view which epitomises general Italian attitudes toward change and how somethings can change for the better. I would like to think that despite the result last night, LE and his staff are taking a different approach to these competitions, even if tifosi attitudes are not. The CL remains the best and most esteemed competition outside of any national league, that is without question, but how many clubs are realistically in with a chance of winning it? Not many. The Europa League is a good competition these days which means a lot to clubs and fans to go a long way in and perhaps even win. The financial reward, while nowhere near the CL, is also quite signifcant. A club spends its entire season trying to finish as high-up the table as possible, and last season we weren't good enough to qualify for the CL, so why not be happy with participation in the EL? And its quite clear that we aren't – nor have been for quite some time – good enough to even challenge to get to the latter stages in the CL, so expectations and views on European football should be addressed (the same could be said for all Italian sides). We aren't operating with a makeshift squad with few players and little depth, and we aren't realistically forerunners to win the scudetto, so we're well equipped to challenge in several competitions, and so why the fuck not. There's no reason why we couldn't consider ourselves as serious contenders to win the EL, and I know I wouldn't mind a little European silverware at the end of the season.

[ASR1927]

I agree about the Europa League as well. I certainly wouldn't harm the club to go for it and win some silverware. Italian sides need to do better in Europe or Serie A will slide into irrelevance in European competition. I certainly don't want that. I want Serie A to be the top league it once was.
I'm going off the grid this weekend lads. No internet. I need to breath some fresh air and I need a break from all the bullshit that comes with football. Be back on Monday.

[maro]

[maro]

Ciao, Goffredo. You'll be missed. Lord knows we need all the sanity we can get in these parts. I happen to enjoy Serie A. If the Europa League didn't exist and so Roma were down to playing one game a week this season, personally it wouldn't be much of a loss for me. Sure there are those who enjoy European competition per se - good luck to them; I quite respect that position. I just don't consider it that important. I enjoy the big CL occasions and I admire teams like Stoke, say, who are revelling in the opportunity to play in Europe. Good on them. I'll be happy enough getting to watch Roma on the weekends.

[pocari_fenrir]

some interesting words from Panucci, glad to see he still cares
http://www.football-italia.net/aug19n.html

[maro]

I don't understand why Lamela's being available would have any impact on whether or not Borriello and/or Totti would be picked, though.

[pocari_fenrir]

use him as a wing forward and force Borri to be a vice-Totti?? just a guess

[RomaShield27]

My understanding with regard to Lamela is that LE sees him as being part of the midfield three, a mezz'ala, so not sure how he'd effect Borriello and/or Totti, either. We shall see, though, when he's in contention for a place (he currently has an and is not expected to be back until our second game of the Serie A season).

Lamela is also doing his first tomorrow at midday Italian time.

is a downloadable PDF from 'NEEP Roma Holding S.p.A' with all sorts of financial statements and details following Di Benedetto's official takeover () yesterday.

Some very hard words for LE from Carlo Mazzone following our defeat yesterday: "I didn't understand the objective of Luis Enrique with so much training. I don't know, I am distressed. Maybe he wanted to try something, but I did not understand what. I do not question his team selection but I was surprised by his statements. It was better if he had said that there were some tired players. Then it allows time to establish a team. The tifosi have a right to be perplexed."

Enjoy your weekend, Jeff, and the fresh air, lord knows we could all do with one of them before the season kicks in.

Does anyone have highlights of our game yesterday? Had a quick nose around but couldnae find none.

Totti fancies himself as a bit of a chef in his new Vodafone ad. He looks the part: f you lived under a rock and didn't know he was a footballer, you could never tell:

[RomaShield27]

Hmmm, was just flicking channels there to ESPN in time to see none other than Kjaer getting out-muscled and skinned down the wing rather easily for Wolfsburg v 'Gladach...

[p_maldini_3]

[RomaShield27]

Ray who now?!

[red]

[RomaShield27]

lol no feckin way. I'm not watching that game. If our defence looks dodgy now, I can't wait till we sign him (if we ever do).

[maro]

Cassetti played very well yesterday.

[pocari_fenrir]

Possibly our best player on the pitch yesterday. Still need to shape up for season opener; was troubling that yesterday's match posed more questions than answers

Jeff/ASR, enjoy your weekend. Im hitting up cottage country this weekend myself but i might have some internet.