THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[red]

Some good stuff from Roma, even if they were incredibly wasteful.

They could have scored ten if they'd made better decisions and executed things better, as there were countless occasions Roma had several players bearing down on the Inter defence.

Don't suppose many teams will be stupid enough to continually allow Totti acres of space, though.

Thought Roma's CBs did really well, particularly Burdisso, to hold things together, as they weren't exactly given a huge amount of protection by the rest of the team.

As much as I like Destro, I don't see a future for him playing from the wing. He's a CF, and a rather good one at that.

[Lupa]

Thoughts from those that watched the game? Were we that good or Inter that bad, or both? The reports I've read made it seem like Inter came on strong at the end of the first half, but we took over in second. True?

[forzaitalia]

Inter were at their strongest towards the end of the first half and the first ten to fifteen minutes of the second half, albeit without seriously threatening. From about the hour mark we did take over though yeah. Great result and plenty of encouraging signs.

[DCGweez]

Here ya go Lupa.

Here's Zampa.

http://www.asromastreaming.net/2012/09/ ... -02092012/

[Lupa]

Thanks! Nice to see the first was from the elder statesman to the young Roman. Marquinho's shot was amazing. How on earth he got that in from that angle, and Zeman just looked like it was another day at the office.

[Italiamia]

Totti still has it, folks. He is simply one of the best players produced from Italy. Great to see a 21 year old kid from Vitinia score today. I'm sure his old coaches from San Giorgio dall'Acilia are proud men today not to mention his mentors at Lodigiani. Stent boy, Zeman, is not long for this world. He's a fat load and if he does not dump those smokes, he's finished.


http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio ... rare%C2%BB

[RomaShield27]

What a win, what a game. Was fairly pissed watching it, it was like a fantastically freaky football rollercoaster ride to Zemanlandia. Great goals. great performances. Have to watch it again just to make sure it wasn't a dream, full match in now.

[DCGweez]

Totti was magisterial.

My moment of the game was Florenzi running to Totti after he scored on Frank's cross. Hugs Totti. Imagine what it must be like for a Roma youth to score in his first start for the Rosa and have Totti assist it. Storybook.

Lot's of questions though. They certainly didn't seem to miss Pjanic on the day. Totti did much better with "runners" behind him bombing into the box. It also allowed him space to move back so he didn't have to move wide.

Thought Nico had a great game also. It reminded me of a Cannavaro performance, constantly sweeping in at the last moment to avoid danger. Castan seems a solid buy. It makes you realize just how dodgy Kjaer was. My goodness.

Piris started out solid at the back but wilted as the game progressed. Balza was good too, Taddei seemed to do much better and his hair far excedes that of Piris and Balza. It's shiny with a lot of volume and nary a tan line to be found on those legs.

Takki was average. I expected more from him frankly.

[Lupa]

[DCGweez]

[RomaShield27]

I was looking for that image earlier. Grazie DCG.

[maro]

I suspect Pjanic can play both sides of the ball pretty comfortably, DCG - that is, in the end he's too technically gifted to be 'just' a runner, but he can also be an incursore di centrocampo. His 'problem' is that he has to 'dislearn' all of his Enrique-inculcated habits. I imagine that will mean he - and probably De Rossi and Lamela - may take longer to adjust than some of the others. He arrived at the club as a trequartista and there were many 'experts' who complained he wasn't playing there early-doors last season, so I'm pretty confident he can make runs beyond Totti and time his arrival in the box. It just may take a little longer for him to shed some of the old habits.

[DCGweez]

Actually most of the goals i remember him scoring in Ligue Uhh were runs into the box and whipped in from the Wingers.

I don't doubt that he can do many things. I just wonder if we're paying a premium for a polymath when a "runner" is what's called for. Florenzi certainly looked the part yesterday even if Inter did a wonderful job of isolating Guarin for us.

And I'm not blaming Pjanic. I think if you remove Totti then Pjanic has the room to express himself. I just question whether they compliment each other.

[RomaShield27]

How wonderful it was to see Florenzi score last night. Good run into the box and a beatiful precision cross by Totti to pick him out, and the sheer joy in his face running over to celebrate with his hero and capitano, like DCG said, it was just great. If there were any doubts of Florenzi's ability or potential they are well and truly out the window now, he was excellent throughout, his movement and energy and all round game was infectious. How great to have another Roman make it, especially after losing so many in the summer.

Tachtsidis was ok, I think, DCG. It was a demanding game for him to make his debut against a tough Inter midfield, and as always the player in that position has to do a lot of donkey work which often goes unnoticed. He put in some tough tackles, and he also won the ball back and was involved for Osvaldo's great team goal. Losing DDR so early, too, would have put more pressure on his shoulders, but he managed well. I still prefer DDR at mediano, without question, with Tachtsidis as back-up, but we should remember that when Tachtsidis was first brought to the club it was a surprise for many people, and Zeman said he will make him into a champion, with time, so to go from a player who has potential to be thrown right in at the deep end – away to Inter in the second game of the season – I think he done very well indeed. With Pjanic to come back the options are certainly there in midfield – and indeed I shouldn't forget Marquinho, who done very well too when he came on – and I agree that Pjanic is too good of a player not be an integral part of this side.

Burdisso and Castan were impressive throughout and held up well. Castan does perhaps go to ground a little too easy but he'll learn that with time, and he was turned a little too easy by Cassano for his goal. Piris was under a lot of pressure with most of Inter's attacks coming down the left, but he held up ok. Balzaretti was impressive as always before going off, and even when we lost both himself and DDR we still held up well and didn't look too disjointed with Marquinho and Taddei coming on, and that on top of Inter's fortunate goal at a poxy time and with them on top at the start of the second-half, we still held it together and didn't crumble like we have done in the past, which was very nice to see.

Osvaldo still annoys me. Don't get me wrong, I still like him as a centre-forward and he took his goal magnificently, but too often he takes the wrong option or loses the ball far too easily. His attitude is still fucked up, moaning and whinging to the ref at every decision which doesn't go his way, and his yellow cards were just stupid ( one game suspension for "protesting against the officials. and non-regulatory behavior in the field"). Destro was also impressive and there were a lot of positives to take from his game even if it wasn't his best. He'll be a great signing, and we'll see a lot more of him through the middle rather than out wide. And on Totti, no words are needed, really. He looks in great shape and was all over the pitch yesterday, all of which gives him the confidence to do what he can do.

[Lupa]

[maro]

One swallow does not a summer make - for all that it can be a nice way to round out an evening.

[maro]

The coconut-bearing ones are best of all, of course.

[maro]

What happened there? Did I just delete DCG's post? I didn't realise I had such power.

This was his gift to us all (along with a passing glance at the relative merits of African and South-American fauna): http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... eman-inter

[DCGweez]

Oh i deleted it when i realized it's already been posted by Lupa up top...

[maro]