THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

Jeff, that goal.com article says we're willing to pay up to €10 million for Kjaer. No mention of a loan, though. I've been wondering why Wolfsburg would be happy to let him leave on a loan deal. I mean, he did cost them around €12m (approx, I think it was undisclosed) when they bought him from Palermo, so it seems a little odd that they'd let him leave only on loan for a €2m fee instead of demanding all of the money upfront. Its almost an admission that he's been a poor signing and couldn't make the grade there.

I also remember stories from a few years back when Kjaer was at Palermo, and he was linked to a move to Man Utd, and he said something like he wouldn't have a problem moving to them despite him being a Liverfekkin'wankscum fan when he was growing up. I'll have to look into that further, but it doesn't exactly endear me further to his potential arrival.

lol, David. I assumed that was one the standard 'best bits' YouChewb videos which can make even the likes of Simone Loria seem like Pele. Quite nice. I wouldn't be too keen on his arrival, either. Montolivo's still remains a good option, I think, despite Fiorentina saying they won't sell him to another Italian club, I think they may have little choice if the end of the mercato is fast approaching and there are no decent offers for him from overseas.

[ASR1927]

[RomaShield27]

Agreed, Jeff. His most likely destination abroad is somewhere in Spain, I think: I don't buy the rumours of Arsewipe's interest in him.

New 2011 official AS Roma catalogue available to download (PDF, 8.5Mb), or on the site (you can also ask for a hardcopy to be posted to you). Its interesting, are criticising not having Totti appear AT ALL throughout the catalogue, saying the new marketing people prefer to use faces of "young" people. For years I think most of us have agreed to some extent that the old society have seriously failed in marketing of the club, saying that we have a highly marketable player in Totti, but now it seems our new ownership aren't too keen to use Totti's face where you think they might.

[p_maldini_3]

[taz]

Roma have completed their signing of Pablo Daniel Osvaldo from Espanyol for €15m plus performance-related bonuses.

The Italian striker of Argentine descent touched down in Rome today and will be in the stands for tonight’s Europa League game against Slovan Bratislava.

He underwent his medical and the Giallorossi released a statement confirming “a contract has been signed with Espanyol for the permanent acquisition of Pablo Daniel Osvaldo.”

The announcement revealed €15m will be paid over three years, plus a series of performance-related bonuses.

Espanyol will receive €1m if Roma qualify for the Champions League in one of the seasons from 2011-12 to 2015-16.

A further €0.25m for every 25 appearances in official games for a maximum of €1m, plus €0.25m for every 10 goals scored for a maximum of €0.5m.

Osvaldo has signed a four-year contract with Roma worth €3.6m for the first season, working up to €4.47m in 2015-16.

[RomaShield27]

LE FORMAZIONI UFFICIALI



http://www.romanews.eu/2011/08/25/roma- ... pa-league/
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/se ... index.html

[aba_bab]

For the record.. I blame Cassetti

[RomaShield27]

[ASR1927]

Here you go...

Kjaer: 'I'm joining Roma'



Simon Kjaer has flown in to complete his Roma transfer. “When I heard Walter Sabatini was looking for me, I didn’t hesitate for a second.”
The Wolfsburg defender had been linked to the club for several weeks, but negotiations took a sudden very rapid twist this evening.

Kjaer flew in to Fiumicino airport and gave an interview with the local media.

“When I heard Sabatini was looking for me, I didn’t hesitate a second,” said the former Palermo star.

Sabatini had been director general at Palermo when he signed Kjaer and now holds that role at Roma.

“I had the opportunity to play in a great squad with champions like Francesco Totti, Daniele De Rossi and Juan.”

Kjaer’s arrival is a boost for the Giallorossi, who crashed out of the Europa League this evening in the play-offs.

[forzaitalia]

I was at a Pete Doherty gig in Blackburn earlier tonight, so this post is without seeing any reports of who played well (if anyone), how we played etc.

Whilst checking livescore.com on my phone I wasn't surprised to see us go ahead early on. I was, however, surprised when it stayed at 1-0 for a long time, but felt confident we'd snatch another towards the end of the second half and we'd be through. I'm sure you all understand my shock, and anger when I checked a couple of minutes before the end. 1-1 with Slovan f*cking Bratislava. That, there, is downright embarassing. I didn't know they existed until we drew them - Artmedia and Zilina were the two big boys in Slovakia, I thought. Apologies to Italy for further hampering the co-efficient.

Whilst the league is the priority, there's no excuses for that. LE that's a nightmare start for you.

[stefano]

More importantly, how was the Pete Doherty gig?

[RomaShield27]

Le pagelle from all the different papers . Bojan got the worst rating by far, followed by LE himself.

Totti's substition video here. The look on De Rossi's face in the crowd is hilarious.



Full match v Bratislava is available for download in the .

[ASR1927]

Just to put things into perspective.

In his first season with M i l a n Arrigo Sacchi was knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Espanyol but then went on to do great things in charge of M i l a n. This could be LE's Espanyol. Before anyone points out that this was a Slovak team and not a Spanish one the comparison still rings true. Give it time
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/se ... index.html

Last night LE and a lot of the players slept at Trigoria. It was a good sign to me to see LE staying with the players.
Totti arrived this morning at 08:30.


While not agreeing with the substitution myself Totti's reaction and going straight to the dressing room was completely unacceptable. How can any manager do there job if they are shown up by the captain of the club? He did it to Spalletti he did it to Ranieri it has to stop. However I suspect it won't. That substitution didn't lose the game. Poor defending and our complete lack of finishing lost it. Yes I know new defenders are needed but if Caprari,Bojan and Angel had put away their sitters the away goal would not have mattered.
Again I think it was a mistake taking him off but remember when Ranieri took off Totti and De Rossi in that derby during his first season? If we had lost he would have been crucified. However we won and he was hailed as having balls of steel for taking the risk. It is a very fine line isn't it.

[ASR1927]

Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has backed under-fire boss Luis Enrique, as well as promising him some more new faces.

The Spanish tactician is under immense pressure in the capital after the Giallorossi crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday.

“Luis Enrique is not under discussion,” stated the official after the 1-1 draw with Slovan Bratislava. “We are proud of him.

“I hope that his decisions are not criticised,” he added. “The new players have yet to integrate themselves.

“Sometimes great victories are built from defeats and I saw a side with great dignity. We want to construct something important.”

Roma added Espanyol striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo to their squad yesterday in a €15m move and Simon Kjaer will also be netted in the very near future.

“Kjaer is already in Rome,” Sabatini added when asked about the Wolfsburg and Denmark defender.

“We have to conclude the deal now and I’ll be very happy when he signs a contract with us.

“We are struggling in midfield though and we have to make some important signings.

“Fernando Gago of Real Madrid and Fiorentina’s Riccardo Montolivo? They are important players.”

[p_maldini_3]

totti can learn a thing or two from The Waterboy.

[RomaShield27]

So the Serie A strike for this weekend has been . What jolly good news for Roma. Next game on September 11 at home to Cagliari (assuming the strike business is sorted). Plenty of time to get this excuse of a team in order, one hopes.

Damiano Tommasi had this to say: "There will be no Serie A this weekend. We tried right up until the end, but ultimately all the talks were in vain."

A few people were commenting on this last night: you can see the tifosi's reaction behind our dugout to their goal in this vid:

http://onlineseriea.com/onlineseriea/ro ... 71553.html

Blogistuta's on last nights game and the chaotic events of recent days.

[Marco_Italia]

How embarrassing for Roma, i think Totti was very disrespectful to act in the manner that he did thou'!

How did their younger players play Carprari and Viviani? Suprised Enrique went with a watered down team. :/

Also, i see Bertolacci has been sent on loan to Lecce for the 3rd season running, really thought he might get a shot at Roma this year, has ALOT of potential imo.

[forzaitalia]

[stefano]

[romawi]

I really hope we don't sign Gago. My hate for him rivals my hate for Giovani Dos Santos. Watching Roma play with Gago in the team would be very difficult.