THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[maro]

[DCGweez]

Ag. Pjanic: "Rifiutato il Tottenham, resta a Roma"

[DCGweez]

[maro]

Isn't the story that he's an excommunitario and so the deal's a non-starter? When it was being reported this morning the point was just that given such interest, it doesn't look as though Zeman is entirely convinced with what he already has at his disposal . . . .

[RomaShield27]

So looks like we are serious about this Goicoechea. Interesting move, fairly cheap as well. I guess Zeman requested him. He a Spanish passport so wouldnt be a non-EU signing. Does it spell the end for Stek, though? Like DCG quoted above, his agent said if another keeper arrives then Stek will go, but is Goicoechea just coming in as another back-up or one for the future (even at 24)?

That 12 man bench thing is just bizarre, I mean is it really needed?

sold yesterday on the first day of general sale, so now over 50,000 expected so far for Sunday, with that likely to rise even further.

[maro]

Should we run a sweep on how long the enthusiasm will last?

[RomaShield27]

Has anyone read this before? I bookmarked it ages ago then forgot all about it.

http://www.cafyd.com/HistDeporte/htm/pdf/4-7.pdf

[red]

De Rossi, having turned down Man City, has single-handedly saved football, apparently:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... ester-city

[DCGweez]

Join the fight for second place:


http://www.fantasyseriea.com/en/leagues.php

League name: Serie A Forums
PAssword: V7IPi0Kz

[Italiamia]

[DCGweez]

The rumors appear to be true. Looks like we're in for some fireworks at the end here. Not sure that I love him mentioning Laziale though.


“I’m really happy,” he told a website in his homeland of Uruguay. “I’m living through a really important moment.

“I’ve had to wait for 15 days, but fortunately everything has been concluded in the best manner possible.

“As soon as I arrive in Rome I will contact Emiliano Alfaro [of Lazio] who was a colleague of mine in the past and he’ll help me.”

[RomaShield27]

I wouldn't hold that against him, he is a fellow Uruguayan living in the same city after all.

Rumours that Stek has a serious shoulder injury and could even be out for up to six months, but those fears have since been . But I do wonder if Stek's physical condition had anything to do with us getting a new keeper.

[red]

How do you lot think Roma are shaping up for this season?

Every Serie A preview I read is tipping Roma as having a chance of a run at the title this season and saying they've made good signings this summer.

I think Roma have done reasonably with the transfers (hard to say more than that when I don't know much about the South American defenders), but they had a huge amount to do after how poor they were last season.

I just can't see Roma doing more than challenging for a CL spot at best.

Are all these journalists being caught by the Zeman hype or am I missing something here and Roma are actually threatening to become a good team capable of consistently winning games?

[RomaShield27]

Hard to judge, really, as it the case with all Zeman's teams. You can never be sure what you're gonna get. I think we are capable of challenging for the scudetto – if are players gel and settle into Zeman's style of football like we've been doing pre-season then we could get on a run, then who knows – but just as likely we suffer from Zeman's over-attacking approach and our defense, with question marks over it already, cost us more points than all the goals we'll no doubt score.

I also think part of the hype of Roma challenging for the scudetto in Serie A previews and such is simply because there aren't really any other candidates. Milan are in free fall, Inter are also rebuilding (although their mercato is getting more impressive), whilst Napoli and Udinese look weaker compared to Juve who look even stronger. Roma are been very active on the mercato front and with the Zeman effect its only natural people can get carried away, but we'll see how it goes. I'm really looking forward to the new season now, come to think of it.

Speaking of our defense, good to see on Leandro Castan. And apparently Arsenal made an for Burdisso, but we said fack off.

Marquinhos will take the number 3 shirt and will shorten his name to 'Marcos' on it, for some reason:

http://www.corrieredellosport.it/foto/c ... Marquinhos

[red]

I think Napoli are shaping up rather well, provided that they replace Gargano.

Although they have lost Lavezzi and a reliant on Pandev/Insigne/Vargas, if any combination of them even come close to replacing Lavezzi, Napoli could well be stronger due to finally getting close to having the depth to have a decent run at the title.

[RomaShield27]

Yeh they have the goods up front, but I still think they're weak at the back. They've signed Gamberini but he's not really much of an upgrade, although a fully fit Britos may be an improvement. Plus they're still over reliant on their wing-backs with no good cover. If they signed Armero, who they were linked with, or Vargas, then they could be in business.

[DCGweez]

Not sure what all the hype is about. Only DDR is close to a sure thing. Totti is 35. Burdisso is off knee surgery.

After those three only Ozzy is even close to both consistent and above average.

The rest are either unproven or proven to be mediocre. Anything is possible with this team and I mean anything. That includes the manager. The Juve line about Carrera winning more than Zeman is stupid, but not factually incorrect.

And I think Napoli are stronger provided Cavani wants to be there.

[forzaitalia]

[RomaShield27]

Didn't mean to come across like I was all set for an all out assault on the title, it was more just in reply to Red's question of why the media are tipping Roma. Like DCG said anything is possible with this team, and so its not beyond the realm of possibility that we find ourselves in a position of not being too far off the top of the league come the business end of the season. The lads seem to have taken to Zeman and his approach quite well, there is a good atmosphere and team spirit about the club at the moment, and a general sense of optimism. On the flip side we are still a young and unproven side with a lot of unproven players, some coming to Europe (Italy) for the first time, plus we still have question marks in defence, and we all know how easy things can fall apart with the pressure of expectation from the tifosi, so it may well be a season to settle and to gel with a more realistic target of CL qualification. Next year we'll take the scudetto.

[maro]

We're certainly more likely to win the Scudetto this year than dino is to get laid. And on the face of it, we're certainly much better placed going into the season than we were this time last year. And not too many clubs in Serie A can say that - hence, as thredz sez, the hippo [sic].