THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

Agreed, two clean sheets and two wins on the bounce is good, but nevertheless as per usual not quite a lot of confidence leading to the big encounter away to Milan. Still, we seem to raise it for the big games (er excluding the Derbies, which isn't really a big game anyway since they're not really a big team) so you never know.

[Lupa]

Le pagelle


Il Corriere dello Sport:
Osvaldo 6.5, Heinze 6.5, De Rossi 6.5, Greco 6.5, Stekelenburg 6, Bojan 6, Taddei 6, Kjaer 6, José Angel 6, Gago 6, Luis Enrique (all.) 6, Borini 5, Lamela s.v.

La Gazzetta dello Sport
Stekelenburg 6.5, Taddei 6.5, Kjaer 6.5, Heinze 6.5, José Angel 6, Gago 6, De Rossi 6, Greco 6.5, Marquinho 6.5, Lamela 5.5, Bojan 6, Borini 6.5

Il Messaggero
Stekelenburg 6; Taddei 5.5, Kjaer 6, Heinze 6.5, José Angel 6; Gago 6 (42’st Simplicio n.g.), De Rossi 6.5, Greco 6.5 (29’ st Marquinho 6); Borini 5.5, Lamela 5 (15’st Bojan 6.5), Osvaldo 7. All.: Luis Enrique 6,5

Il Tempo
Stekelenburg 6.5; Taddei 6, Kjaer 6, Heinze 7, José Angel 5.5; De Rossi 5.5, Gago 6 (42′st Simplicio sv), Greco 6.5 (29′st Marquinho 6.5); Lamela 5.5 (15′st Bojan 6.5), Borini 6, Osvaldo 7. All.: Luis Enrique 6.

Il Romanista
Stekelenburg 6.5; Taddei 6, Kjaer 6.5, Heinze 7, José Angel 6.5; Gago 6.5, (41’st Simplicio 6), De Rossi 6.5, Greco 7 (29’st Marquinho 6.5); Lamela 6+ (13’st Bojan 7); Borini 6.5, Osvaldo 7.5. All.: Luis Enrique 7

http://www.vocegiallorossa.it/?action=r ... izia=33827

Stekelenburg 6: viene impegnato poco, gestisce bene l'ordinaria amministrazione.
Taddei 6.5: un'indecisione su Palacio, nel primo tempo. Disputa poi una buona gara.
Kjaer 7: dalle sue parti gravita spesso un certo Palacio ma non se ne accorge quasi nessuno. Respinge tutto, tra i migliori.
Heinze 6.5: non è più una sorpresa, dà solidità a tutto il reparto.
José Angel 5.5: bene in fase difensiva ma è in avanti che deve migliorare. Troppo timido.
De Rossi 6.5: prova convincente da parte del centrocampista di Ostia.
Gago 6.5: a centrocampo rincorre tutto e tutti. Nel finale fa posto a Simplicio: Dal 42'st Simplicio sv
Greco 6.5: meriterebbe l'ampia sufficienza anche solo per il lancio per Osvaldo in occasione del vantaggio giallorosso. Dal 28's Marquinho 6.5: sfiora il gol con un bel sinistro, offre poi un bell'assist a Osvaldo.
Lamela 6: dà imprevedibilità alla manovra giallorossa. Cala nella ripresa. Dal 13'st Bojan 6.5: ha tantissima voglia di dimostrare il proprio valore. Inizia malissimo, sciupando per egoismo una buona palla-gol ma poi sfiora la rete in più di un'occasione.
Borini 6.5: meno brillante rispetto alle ultime uscite, ma aggressivo e determinato come sempre. Corre fino all'ultimo.
Osvaldo 7: ha una voglia matta di recuperare il tempo perduto e si vede. Segna subito un gran gol, tenta poi addirittura una rovescia ma, pochi minuti dopo, sbaglia clamorosamente a tu per tu con Frey.
http://www.vocegiallorossa.it/?action=r ... izia=33811

I'm not sure how Kjaer merits a 7 unless it's just based on the fact that he didn't cost us anything, and didn't get sent off. I noticed that a lot of his attempted clearances went immediately to Genoa. Overall, a lot of average looking grades for a pretty average looking performance.

[AS Collie]

What about Bojan's 7!?! Honestly, the better Borini looks, the worse the spaniard does. If you came to Rome having never seen any of our players, who would you say has won league titles, and champions league titles and is valued at €40 million? Nice to see Osvaldo back, as a bit of strength and directness in front of goal is what I feel we've been missing. Still wish we'd hung on to Borriello.

Anyway, for the run in of the season, up front we can play with Totti, an argentine target-man and a sprinty Italian goal-machine. De ja vu, anyone?

[DCGweez]

I thought Bojan played well on Monday.

Good news. We will have another forward next year...

http://www.football-italia.net/16892/ju ... llo-option

[Lupa]

[AS Collie]

Nice piece about Borini.

I just don't see Bojan scoring, and considering the hype and the price-tag, I don't think he's been a great success. At this stage of the season, I wouldn't be gambling on him finding form. I don't want to say he's a bad player, because he's not, but he's been given plenty of time to prove himself of use to Roma this season and he hasn't done it. For a player of his standing, four goals in 28 appearances (as a sub or not) doesn't cut it (that's a 14% chance of scoring, based on those figures). Fernando Torres, the subject of constant abuse by fans and journos alike (most or all of it justified) has six goals in 34 games, which is a 17% chance of a goal. And the money-grabbing, washed-up Blondie in London has 12 assists, which isn't a bad contribution.

Of course, I'm only pointing this out because Krkic was a "high-profile" signing, and because he is now taking up space on the bench. Piscitella has eight or nine goals for the Primavera this season and by all accounts has played well, which I think warrants a run as a sub for the seniors, instead of Bojan.

On a completely subjective note, I hate that moany little face he makes, almost ALL of the time. It's incredibly punchable. Angry and frustrated can be good, but he looks sad, like he might piss his shorts and call his mommy. If he spent less time moaning and feeling sorry for himself, perhaps he'd score more.

Just my 2c.

[DonSimon]

[DCGweez]

I hear what you're saying and I have not been impressed with him either. The Torres comparison I don't know about. I would be willing to bet that if we went minutes to goals it would be extremely flattering to Bojan.

I was simply referring to that game. he looks to me like he's trying to force the issue which is not uncommon of a player in his position. that said from the get I'm sure he had plenty of opportunity for first first team football. So there is no one to blame but himself.

[RomaShield27]

lol, Colly doesn't like Bojan. Like DCGweez I thought he done alright against Genoa yeh, he's just lacking that bit of confidence which all strikers need. His decision making is terrible but again that is something which would come with confidence and with getting a few goals.

He certainly has been a disappointing signing so far but to be honest i'm not really all that surprised as I wasn't expecting too much of him in the first place, and never really saw him as a big high-profile signing. I've also never been convinced that we would in anyway choose to make his stay permenent, not with the figures involved, and certainly his performances to date have done nothing to suggest we'd be willing to spend an extra €28m on him to keep him after next season (we have to pay Barca €12m at the end of next season regardless). I'm sure he'll stay for next season and he may well improve and become a regular goal-scorer for us, but in my view definitely not enough for us to justify spending €40m squid on him.

Nice piece about Borini alright. I never realised there was an issue with him being an 'outsider' or not fitting in. I don't see a problem with him missing team meetings (social) or dinners or anything like that, and I haven't really noticed any problems with other players on the pitch such as going to celebrate with him, so hopefully there's nothing to it.

[AS Collie]

For me, the only issue at hand there is the issue of the newspaper the journo needs to sell. They all seem to get on fine with him, and he plays well with everyone so that's the important thing. Maybe he just finds Bojan's face really punchable too, and is afraid he might get a bit fighty after a couple of white wine spritzers, like Edzo does.

Obviously, when I said "high profile", I was referring to the hype and the price, not the actual profile of the player. I'd be happy enough to see him hang around another year and see what happens, but he really looks like a player who's going backwards and I just wouldn't like to see him get in the way of another player's progression.

DC, did you not read the last post on my excellent and rarely updated blog

Those figures are a couple of games old, but the latest on the Serie A site is: Borini 9 goals, 18 games, 1331 minutes; Bojan 4 goals, 24 games, 1011 minutes. So in the league, Bojan has a goal every 253 minutes, as opposed to a modest talent like Genoa's Palacio, who has one every 151 minutes. Zlatan scores every 100 minutes, give or take, and young Borini every 147.

[RomaShield27]

Maybe they dislike him because of the 'english spirit' he brings to the game. He makes all the other players look bad cos he works so hard all the time. And they're all jealous of him he was so lucky to play in england and learn the 'english way'. Maybe he also likes to go out to the pub and get shitfaced and cheat with other players wives and be a really obnoxious, arrogant, flashy cnut – all other great traits from his time spent in glorious old engerland. All sounds like tosh. And I don't buy into this theory that he learned to work so hard just cos he spent a few seasons in the Championship. His work rate and energy is great, but lets not pretend its all down to him being in england.

Bojan's face is quite punchable, yeah, now that you mention it. I also think if he spent all the time he does twittin on the training pitch instead practising his shooting he'd be a 30-goal-a-season specialist.

While I'm at it, Osvaldo is a bit annoying as well the way he moans on the pitch. His attitude and body language sometimes is very bad and makes me want to slide tackle him knee-high at full speed.

Ok rant over. I like all our strikers really (well, not so much Bojan).

[AS Collie]

Don't forget parking your massive Range Rover in handicap spaces, Edzo. That's very English too. Or at least Chelsea-English. Borini learned the English way like Bojan learned the Barca way.

Osvaldo's all right, but he loves himself and that annoys me. Lamela said it best: "You're not Maradona." Or Johnny Depp, despite the Argentine's best sartorial efforts.

Has anyone seen them train? I wonder how much focus is put on shooting practise. I'd murder someone for a poacher now. I love all the passing, but shitting myself up in the curva until the end of the 90 minutes is wearing thin. Gimme some more hefty score-lines!

[DCGweez]

Ref. Borini, someone on here in SB asked why Borini celebrates alone. I've watched ever since and def noticed it.

Collie, ill check out the blog. I only check when you alert us to something new on here but genuinely enjoy your work. You and Blogistuta are the only articles I can get through where Roma are concerned

[AS Collie]

Blogistuta's great. I should post more, but I've been doing a lot of other freelance stuff and just haven't had the chance to build up a routine. Must try harder.

I have noticed Borini seeming a little apart, but I put it down to his personality and – it seems to be – a genuine commitment to working as hard as possible. Every interview I've read, he's always on about work and improvement. Which is great. I really like Borini, so maybe I'm blind to his weaknesses.

[maro]

Supposedly Totti and De Rossi have both been seen to reproach Borini for being too selfish when he has the ball too (Totti during the game, De Rossi in his comments to the journos immediately after). There was a piece on this on forzaroma a couple of weeks ago but I can't find it now; it's the one to which that English article looks like it's referring. I like Bojan; his movement off the ball is so much better than any of our other forwards'. The line of Spanish players who have struggled in Italy is long, though, and Bojan's age and temperament don't at once suggest that he's going to succeed where others have failed.

[DCGweez]

Collie, I meant flattering in comparison to Fernanda and to be clear I love Borini for his work rate

The rest pretty much what Maro just said. Although, being a broken record, I thought Caprari's movement was excellent and a cut above too. Unfortunately his finishing was equally as horendous.

[RomaShield27]

Borini may be a little selfish when he gets in close to goal – naturally his instinct is to shoot, which is fair enough – but I think some of that is down to a bit of inexperience and lack of understanding of the players around him and he not quite having the vision to pick out a clinical pass. That may be a reason why some players are slow to celebrate with him after he scores, but surely not a reason why some may not quite get on with him off the pitch.

Colly, why don't you cycle down to Trigoria to see if you can go in and watch them train when its open to the public? If it is ever open to the pubic, that is, not sure? You could pretend you're a journalist, too, to see if that'll help you get in.

[RomaShield27]

Roma, Bojan: un altro anno di prova
/ Mercoledì 21 Marzo 2012 12:42

Secondo alcune indiscrezioni che arrivano direttamente di Trigoria, Bojan rimarrà un altro anno nella Roma, come da accordi con il Barcellona. Quindi nessun ritorno anticipato alla casa madre per il giovane spagnolo, come si era ipotizzato nelle scorse settimane.

Luis Enrique crede nelle potenzialità dell'attaccante ed è convinto che i problemi d'ambientamento possano essere superati nella stagione prossima. In questo campionato, Bojan ha disputato 24 partite, realizzando quattro gol.

(calciomercato.com)

[AS Collie]

Agreed and understood on both points, DC.

Edzo: go pretend you're a Juventino and have another wank about Mirko. Doing any pretending to be a designer today? I've not seen a page in a week. Not exactly rushing myself ... I agree with you on the inexperience and vision of Borini. I really see him as a finisher, which is why I like him. There's enough players looking to pass. He's sure to improve this aspect of his game anyway.

Bojan's movement off the ball is good, but that only counts when you're good on it as well. I'm with Maro about the likelihood of that happening. Every time he gets tackled, it's like he thinks its unfair that someone would play so rough with him. I've said it before, but he reminds me more of a boy than a man, and Serie A is very much a man's league.

That said, I've nothing against him, and I hope he'll come around, not least because his serbian roots means my missus (from belgrade) is constantly asking about how he's doing, and I'm fed up saying "Shite". I feel like a parrot.

[red]

Bojan reminds me of strikers at the Old Firm who build a reputation on coming off the bench to score the fourth or fifth goal in easy wins to amass a fair number of goals over the season.

People then wonder why they don't score goals when they aren't playing for the best team and they are playing against motivated opponents rather than knackered, demoralised ones.