THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

Instead of debating Zeman, who seems to get all the media attention, I think the focus should be on Totti for his majestic display. You run out of superlatives to describe the man. Like DCG said, I think Zeman does deserve some of the credit for his performances this season. He made it clear from the outset that he is key player from him – despite the logic of it saying a leggy 35/36 at wing-forward is not the ideal type of player for Zeman's system. Yet Totti has got himself in great physical shape for a 36-year-old. Some of the credit for that may go to Zeman for his dietary and fitness programs, I'm not sure, although Totti was also in very good nick last season and clearly has done a lot of work on his own to get that way. Its easy enough for elder statesman like he is to add on the few pounds, like he did a few seasons back, and so be in poor physical shape and more likely to pick up injuries, but he's shown this season he's able to play every game and still produce his magic.

I thought Destro done well, despite fecking up a fair few good opportunities. His movement is great and he does well to get into those positions, and I suppose you have to give him the benefit of the doubt as a youngfella and of whom there's a lot expected from that his finishing and decisions making on the ball will get better. I've been very impressed with him though and think he has a great future ahead, despite his dodgy hairdo.

[AS Collie]

[RomaShield27]

You like his hairdo a lot? Weird. Although not to surprising coming from you.

Disappointing to hear about the abuse he was getting from the Curva, the Ultra's are usually such a patient and understanding bunch. Ha. A few more goals and good appearances will no doubt turn them around and have them singing songs about him.

[AS Collie]

I think, in the heat of the moment, his mistakes looked a lot worse than they might have looked on TV. Certainly they didn't fill me with uncontrollable rage when I watched the replay. But at the time, I was fuming. It's inexperience, and I'm happy to have him starting. I like Osvaldo too, but Lamela-Destro-Totti is my preference, with the Argtalian as a super sub. For now at least.

[Italiamia]

1998-1999

Allenatore: Zdenek Zeman
Portieri: Chimenti, Konsel
Difensori: Aldair, Cafù, Candela, Quadrini, Zago, Dal Moro, Lanzaro, Petruzzi, Wome
Centocampisti: Di Francesco, Di Biagio, Tommasi, Tomic, Frau, D.Conti ,
De Vezze, Aleinitchev, Ferri
Attaccanti: Delvecchio, Gautieri, Totti, Paulo Sergio, Fabio Junior

34 Matches

Goals: 63 Goals conceded: 48

2000-2001

Allenatore: Fabio Capello

Portieri: Francesco Antonioli, Marco Amelia, Cristiano Lupatelli
Difensori: Cafu, Antônio Carlos Zago, Aldair, Jonathan Zebina, Walter Adrián Samuel, Alessandro Rinaldi, Amedeo Mangone, Vincent Candela
Centrocampisti: Cristiano Zanetti, Marcos Assunção, Eusebio Di Francesco, Hidetoshi Nakata, Emerson, Gaetano D'Agostino, Damiano Tommasi, Gianni Guigou
Attaccanti: Vincenzo Montella, Francesco Totti, Gabriel Omar Batistuta, Abel Eduardo Balbo, Marco Delvecchio

34 Macthes

Goals: 68 Goals conceded: 33

Here you go, Collucci. By the way, the year after the scudetto, which we should have won again, Roma scored 60 goals and conceded only 25. You see, a team can still lead the league in scoring and defense. That is a nice formula for winning football in my opinion.

[DCGweez]

Sometimes the stats don't tell the whole story.

By the time Capello came along all those players were in their primes.

I have little doubt that in 6 years if Marcos, Lamela, Pjanic, Lopez, etc. are still with us and developed this team will win a lot of games irrespective of the Mister.

If we had a 26 yr old Totti that wouldn't hurt either.

[Italiamia]

[DCGweez]

I don't know the answer to that question to be honest. I like Carletto but he's not exactly a table manager. Much better in Europe which we aren't in.

I get your point. But i think with these youngins Zeman is the better fit now. I don't see this as a squad that is capable of challenging Juve this year.

Rather have a Mister who is good at developing youngsters given our investment in youth.

[Italiamia]

[DCGweez]

This is where our opinions diverge. I'm not sure what to expect from Roma the rest of the year. Even when playing poorly we've done well against most teams. We are 4 point off a CL spot which, for me anyway, is all that we could really hope for this year.

Is it your opinion that Montella or Ancelotti could have gotten us into contention to win the Scudetto? Honest question.

As for the Roman fans being entertained, well I agree with you. As you know all too well that is born from years disappointment and lack of trophies. The same reason our Derby is so big to the fans. No one expects the trophy, right or wrong.

[AS Collie]

[DCGweez]

I agree, love to have Montella in the future. He's been really good in the past few years although as you said earlier, his tactical choices were questionable against Roma on the weekend.

As for Zeman, if he gets us to Europe i'll be scared to go into the CL with him. That 7-1 pasting by the Manchester Scum still bothers me to this day and Luciano was a better tactician...

[DCGweez]

Pjanic. "Il mio rapporto con Zeman è molto buono. Voglio onorare il mio contratto con la Roma"

His contract runs through 2015 BTW.

[AS Collie]

[maro]

Well, Spalletti did also have to play Vucinic in behind Totti and we all know that that system worked only with all its parts in place. And then Vooch doubly betrayed Spalletti by being incredibly lazy in that role.

[red]

[DCGweez]

I wasn't diminishing Zeman by any means. He's a good coach and has clear ideas. For me Spalletti, the tactician was superior. His 4-5-1/4-6-0 was implemented by United and Barca to great result.

He was more adaptable and if I may borrow from Gio here for a bit, Spalletti actually won things.

That said, I think Zeman is probably a better teach of individuals (I realize i'm venturing into pure speculation here) I'm happy to have him teach Lamela, Destro, Lopez, Pjanic, Florenzi, etc.

But for me, Spalletti's system and flexibility were superior or perhaps I should say that i trusted them more. If we were up 3-1 in the second half i had no concern that Luciano would protect the lead. With ZZ i'm biting through my fingernails till the final whistle.

[Lupa]

I'd give Zeman a year with the likes of Pjanic and Lamela and then turn them over to Spalletti. I'd love to see him with these players.

[AS Collie]

[DCGweez]

DIdn't take it that way at all. Enjoy hearing everyones opinions. Especially divergent opinions.