THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

Caretaker coach? Really, Gio, no love for Zemanlandia? I'm fairly content about our mercato approach. I understand where Totti is coming from, and of course I want to be competitive, but I wouldn't really like to see us splash out big money on loads of new signings, either. The focus on youth is good, the focus on the primavera is better, but yet they do need to be mixed with experienced players and a few new faces have to come in. Its a delicate balance, but I'm with Colly, its certainly all building toward a very interesting and exciting season.

was Zeman's favourite of 10 intervals of 1000m with a 2:30 rest in between. Lamela only player to do the final lap under 3 minutes – his time of 2.49 is an all-time record for all of Zeman's training throughout the years. And look who was last, you wouldn't really expect that.

Lamela 2.49
Nico Lopez e Heinze 3.08
Taddei 3.11
Rosi 3.13
Pjanic 3.15
Burdisso 3.15
Romagnoli 3.19
Bertolacci 3.20
Lucca 3.21
Verre 3.25
Marquinho 3.27
Florenzi 3.28
Verre 3.31
Totti 3.33
Borriello e Okaka 3.36
Josè Angel 3.47

[DCGweez]

Pretty sad that half the top 4 are 30+.


As for the Debbie downers:

1. Fact is, we are not Juve, Milan, Barca or Chelsea. Last year we were top 10 (I think top 5) in all of Europe in spending.

2. Totti annoys me. He's not worth his salary and if he really was that worried about it he would offer up a pay cut.

3. Our club strategy is clear: Buy young and have them grow. So if Lamela, Pjanic, Lopez etc. can grow and improve so should the team.

4. The past 6 years were a result of Calciopoli. We win a Scudettoaround ever 35 years so expect one in the 2030's....

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but such is our lot.

[AS Collie]

Heinze 3.08? Burdisso 3.15? Jeez. But perhaps they were trying a little harder than the others.

I can see where Gio is coming from, and you too edzo. I've been saying that the focus on developing players is good, but I've always believed that we needed one big signing. If for no other reason than to point at his price-tag when the criticism begins. It's a silly thing to have to do, but should we narrowly miss out with a bunch of kids then the suggestion will be that we could have done more with a big star signing or two. If we make one and still miss out, then we simply weren't good enough.

I'm excited by A this year. Milan are going to be interesting to watch, as are Napoli, who I feel will struggle with the current squad. I think it's a cycle's-end situation there. That said, I thought the same about Udinese last year.

[Italiamia]

Yes, Edzo, a caretaker coach and yes also that I am not into the Zemanlandia thing. Like I said a month ago, one Zeman stint is enough for any Roma fan in this lifetime. This shite about Zeman not rating Borini bothers me. That kid was one of the few positives coming out of last season. Now, if the Puke make an offer that is north of 10 million, he is gone.

Totti can be annoying but he wants to win. He is the single greatest player in this club's history and he has earned every last lira and euro since his debut for Roma. If you read that article, it rightly recognises that he is first and foremost, a Roma fan and he is able to convey the thoughts of the fans. Again, Roma is one of the very few clubs where the players are directly answerable to the fans.

[AS Collie]

I know where DC is coming from, but I have to go with Gio there. Totti has earned every cent. If he should take a pay cut, then so should everyone else. And someone should go to Brazil and break the legs of Adriano and Cicinho for taking the amounts they did.

I'm NOT accusing DC of this, but it's always amazed me that fans cry for big signings who'll demand huge wages, and then moan when a deserving servant of a club gets rewarded.

The Borini thing amazes me too. he was my fave player last year, and he works harder than anyone. As LE said: "He always gives 100%, even when he's asleep!" Surely that kind of player is perfect for Zeman. Also: €10m is bullshit.

[DCGweez]

To be clear, I didn't say he should have his pay cut. Only that if he wants to complain he should offer. Because he's asking others to poney up the cash.

I understand there was a time when he was paid under market value. However it's not the current owners who got the discount.

[AS Collie]

[RomaShield27]

Well, our management believed in the return of Zeman, and he showed in recent years he is still capable of creating winning teams, so I'm happy about his return. With the support of the club and a big squad with lots of players (too many) at his disposal plus the money there to make a few moves he wants, I don't see why we shouldn't be given the chance. The Borini situation is strange, alight. It must be that Zeman doesn't fancy him, and doesn't think he's technically good enough to be a starter. He would still be a good player to have all the same, good to come off the bench, liven things up a bit, but it may well be a case of us having too many forwards as it is and Sabatini telling Zeman that if he does want another striker, i.e. Destro, then someone has to go.

And Im not quite sure how Totti offering to take a pay cut would increase the clubs willingness to spend big money on new players.

[Italiamia]

[RomaShield27]

I wouldn't consider Zeman a stopgap. Ranieri was a stopgap. Ranieri is the King of stopgap. Montella was a serious early contender but we decided not to pursue him. AVB was available and mentioned all over the media as a serious option, yet we never even got in touch with him to sound him out. Marcelo Bielsa was another, yet we didn't make a move. So I don't think we were really out of options.

I'm not saying I approve of letting Borini go, but just trying to think of reasons why we would. I don't know, nothing is known as this point, but we're just guessing in saying Zeman doesn't particularly fancy Borini for his system and would prefer if we could get Destro. But of course, there is nothing to say that we will get Destro if we do decide to sell Borini, so its all a big risk.

Kjaer on twitter: (@simonkjaer1989)

Ciao Romanisti! Back in #Wolfsburg. Still don't now where I'll play next season. If it's not #asroma I'll just tell you... (cont)

...that I was so PROUD to be #GIallorosso! To all my #asroma team mates: Forza ragazzi! Forza Roma!

[DCGweez]

I like to think (read hope) that we would have someone else lined up if we sell Borini.

[Italiamia]

[AS Collie]

[red]

Bradley is a perfectly alright player.

I agree he's not up to starting for Roma, though.

Someone like Fiorentina or Genoa should have signed him.

[AS Collie]

[DCGweez]

I think Bradley will make people happy. I don't think he will be a starter. I do think he will work hard. I do think he is tactically astute, a hard worker, a good passer and a good tackler. He's not super quick and he's not a good dribbler.

But 3 mill plus a throw away player ain't bad.

[AS Collie]

Personally, I wouldn't like Roma to sign anyone who doesn't bring something special. Would I feel different about him if he was from Dublin? Maybe. But if he was, I'd hope I was sensible enough to see through the national haze.

He's a fine player, but for Roma, i think a pointless one. Aside from the marketing, of course. And in relation to the earlier conversation, he's not the signing totti and/or the tifosi are asking for, nor for me, a player worth the equivilant of er pupone's salary ... If money were an issue and i was given the choice of Bradley or Totti on the bench, I know who I'd choose.

[DCGweez]

I actually believe the American thing is overblown. I wouldn't want Landycakes or Dempsey. Bradley is my type of player and one that I dont think will be over his head at Roma. I think the backlash has more to do with Anti-Americanism than any favoritism. If he were from Spain and cost 4 mill people would treat the signing for what it was. A bit player signed at a bit player's cost

But I agree there is nothing exceptional about him. Just like Marquinho, Rosi, Hienze, Simplicio, Cote and on and on. They can't all be Lamela's who ooze possibilities. Which is why he costs more.

[RomaShield27]

[Andreas20]

He's the new Philipp Lahm.