THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

He's a good signing for the fee we got him for. His contract was up in the summer so Olympiacos were happy to just get somethin for him now, while he gives us cover and another option and right- and left-full back. Plus we've been tracking him for a while so lots of time to look at him. It is a concern that he may be lacking a little defensively but we shall see. If he's better than Piris I'd be amazed, Piris has been great.

[forzaitalia]

Stekelenburg; Piris, Marquinhos, Burdisso, Balzaretti; Bradley, Tachtsidis, Florenzi; Lamela, Destro, Totti.

Subs - Goicoechea, Lobont, Antei, Castan, Sammartino, Ricci, Lucca, Perrotta, Marquinho

Not too many options on the bench. Will be interested to see how Stek does now he's got a chance again. Hope Taxi's passes are better than some of those he produced on Sunday!

[RomaShield27]

Yeah, big night for Stek. There's been a lot of noise made from his agent about how unhappy his client it, which you can never really always believe, but you never really like to hear that sort of thing. Well here's his chance, nothing wrong with a bit of competition, so go and prove that you deserve the number one spot.

I was just going to say where is Dodo, as I think Balza could do with a rest as he's been struggling with form and fitness, and then I remembered his sending off. Not too many options is right. And too soon for Torosidis, of course.

Also, someone tell me, where is Osvaldo tonight? Was is injured or something?

[DCGweez]

OLE OLE OLE OLE, ZeMAN....ZeMAN!!!!!

[pocari_fenrir]

[RomaShield27]

Yeah he did have quite the slow start alright. Although he was only coming fresh from South American football, its his first time playing in Europe. I think we'll keep him alright. We've to pay €4m in the summer if we want to (on top of €0.7 paid already for his loan), which is no small sum, but i think he's done enough to show he's worth it.

--------

http://www.forzaroma.info/2013/01/24/st ... hea/188248

Not good words from Stek (if true). Hard to see him staying after this.

“The last game I played was on December 11 against Atalanta. That’s six weeks, which is a lot. I had a leg injury, and Goicoechea took my place. Why did Zeman lose faith in me? I don’t know, we never spoke about it and there is nothing I can do to change this situation.Since we already had Lobont, I thought it was pointless buying Goicoechea. What was the need for a third goalkeeper? I want to play, not sit on the bench."

[pocari_fenrir]

Reading whispers that Piris isnt in question with the arrival or Torosidis, but our left side. Apparently we're disappointed with Dodo not being able to recover and Balzaretti is struggling, so Torosidis may take to the pitch as early as our next match (away @ Bologna)

[DCGweez]

I have only managed to watch about 50 minutes of the last few games but to me it seems that Balza is everywhere just not very impactful. I can't think of the last time I saw him really tilt the game in our favor.

If we are doing well, he gets forward but when we suffer he seems to suffer. Very disappointing given his age/price tag. I would have hoped he'd be one of the guys who was able to help not just win win games but change the tide of games in our favor.

[DCGweez]

http://www.football-italia.net/29916/lo ... leave-roma

[RomaShield27]

Balza has been disappointing as of late, for sure, and not as influential as we may have thought he could be. His crossing has been particularly poor. He does look very tired to me, though, and he had been suffering with injuries (muscle or thigh strains I think), so I wonder if he just needs some time to recover and get back to his best.

Lopez just needs a loan and some regular playing time, he'll come good.

Crescenzi has returned home after Pescara . He only made one appearance for them and had been struggling for fitness early on. Likely he will be loaned out again (possibly to Serie B) to get some proper playing time, although I wonder if we'd consider keeping him as back-up?

Management meeting with Stekelenburg today over his comments yesterday, and he's likely to be fined, its . Proper order, too, he shouldn't be talking like that.

[p_maldini_3]

i think balzaretti is a small fish in a big pond. he's a completely average player at best.

[pocari_fenrir]

Pescara renewed on Crescenzi until the end of the season actually

Kinda good that Stek got fined. As much as i appreciate his talent, he shouldnt be running his mouth like that. Real Madrid joins his list of future suitors today, after Milan and Fulham (though he's last heard crying out for Arsenal. such cry babies, them Dutch). Another person running his mouth is Pjanic, as he blasts our strikers with their poor finishing. That's all the locker room drama to report

Outside of the locker room, Nico Lopez says he will have to re-evaluate where he stands at Roma. After the tournament, he wants more first team action and will leave if he doesnt get it. I think he could make a strong punt coming back with Osvaldo and Destro being particularly wasteful

[DavidP]

so destro going under the knife? for a meniscus tear? here we go.

good article:

Team Focus: Zeman's Roma
by James Horncastle at Friday, Jan 25 2013 11:08




Contrary to popular opinion, the concept of defending is not anathema to Zdenek Zeman. He isn't against it per se. "It's nothing personal," the great man insists. It's just why make a priority of it, when it's not what most people watch a game for? In that sense, Zeman's outlook on football is quite democratic really.

"When you ask a player what he'd like to work on [in training], he will nearly always answer: 'Attacking'. And what do the supporters want? Goals and a spectacle or defensive play instead? Obviously [they'd prefer] a team that pushes forward rather than Catenaccio! I listen to what the people want."

Except Zeman's hearing is often selective and, as with some ear problems, it can leave him and his football teams unbalanced. He gets the bit about playing exciting all-out attacking football loud and clear. But as for the other thing about it being a means to an end rather than an end in itself, like winning a top flight title, well, that sometimes falls on deaf ears.

Towards the end of last season and the beginning of this one, however, Zeman appeared to have finally got the message. There was talk that relatively speaking his teams were showing at least some restraint in their football. For instance, as Pescara closed in on promotion to Serie A, they did not play with as high a line as they had done before. Players sat back and paid greater attention to their duties in coverage. It seemed like the days when Zeman would go all-in and frustratingly risk results, recklessly throwing on attackers at times when his teams were either drawing or only narrowly in the lead, were over. He was even making a few defensive substitutions.

The shift, while only slight - remember Pescara still conceded 55 goals in that campaign - was welcomed by the papers as a long overdue sign of "professional maturity" from Zeman. It augured well for his return to Roma last summer and despite a 2-2 draw at home to Catania on the opening weekend, which saw his team twice fall behind, prompting the ever so predictable cries of "classic Zeman," what followed shortly afterwards was another display to convince some that he had in fact changed. Against Inter at San Siro in September, Roma played in a way that, for all their attacking intent, was measured and intelligent.

Afterwards Zeman was cast as the Master and Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni, the Pupil. They'd met in an airport four years earlier. On seeing Zeman, the precocious Stramaccioni had gone over to him and asked why he hadn't written a book about his tactics. "I like to keep my secrets to myself," Zeman replied.

This, however, seemed like a new chapter. Yet whenever reporters put it to Zeman that his approach to the game now has a slightly different nuance to, say, 15 or 20 years ago, he dismissed the idea. "My thoughts on football haven't changed," he said. The rest of this season perhaps indicates as much. It's still "Same Old Zeman." And while to some that's great, to others it's a bit of a disappointment. He gets your hopes up only to let you down. For La Gazzetta dello Sport columnist Luigi Garlando, Zeman is an "unfulfilled promise," the football equivalent of a "Japanese soldier in the jungle who ignores that it's the end of the war." He just keeps attacking.

Roma, as you would expect, are formidable going forward this season. At one point they were scoring at the rate of Il Grande Torino. Things have relented somewhat of late. But they've still found the back of the net on 44 occasions, averaging 2.1 goals and 17 shots per game. It's the second best record in Serie A behind Juventus'.

Practically irresistible on the attack, the frustration, again, as you would expect, is that Roma, in general, offer so little resistance in defence. Theirs is the third worst record in Serie A with 35 goals conceded. Only bottom club Siena have let in more on the counter-attack. But why exactly is this? Could it perhaps be down to the vertical nature of Roma's play?

Zeman certainly expects his players to get the ball from one end to the other as quickly as possible, uncoiling like a spring. When an attack breaks down, they're strung out all over the pitch. Rather than short and compact, the team is long and stretched. Look for example at their average player positions in December's 1-0 defeat to Chievo and in particular the space in the middle of the park. The midfield three of each side is highlighted below.



Roma's players are often far apart and isolated when out of possession. There's little discernible defensive shape and they struggle to win the ball back. The midfield is bypassed. Not a single member of it features on the list of Serie A's top 20 players at recovering the ball, a list headed by former Roma playmaker David Pizarro [179], Juventus' Andrea Pirlo [171] and Siena's Simone Vergassola [168]. Is it any wonder, particularly when you also consider that Roma have won the second fewest tackles [438] and the fewest aerial duels [237] in the league, that they're so vulnerable?

In essence, Roma are the boxer who comes out swinging [they've scored 21 goals in the first half of games this season, more than anyone else in Serie A]. Everyone cheers and gets on their feet as he dances like a butterfly and stings like a bee but his guard is almost never up. They get caught. One moment they're pummeling Fiorentina and Milan 4-2. The next they're taking a 4-1 beating at the hands of Juventus and Napoli.

They make for an enthralling watch, as all Zeman teams do, but the question is: thrills and spills aside, and without forgetting the club spent £36m in the summer, how much better are they than last season? Well at this stage of the previous campaign, Luis Enrique had actually managed a point more and Roma were sixth, not seventh. Few of course would go back given the choice, not to mention the affection with which Zeman is held.

Responsibility for Roma's ups and downs this season don't all lie with him. Eight players left in the summer. Ten came in. Some new signings have either not worked out or are taking time to adapt and learn a new system and style of play for which no previous experience could have prepared them. Daniele De Rossi is staying but he's going through the motions, as he does every other season in terms of form. In short, there's been a lot more upheaval than many think.

But consider this: Fiorentina appointed a new coach [incidentally one that Roma could also have had, Vincenzo Montella], they brought in no fewer than 18 new players in the summer [for a lot less money too] and implemented a new system and style of play. They've played football this season that's been beautiful, like Roma's, but, in contrast, it's been balanced too. Even after a run of three games without a win in Serie A, they're still three points ahead of them in fifth. Roma fans will point to how they remain in the Coppa Italia and are now only one game from the final. But that's beside the point.

Make no mistake about it, there's great potential within this Roma squad. Great margins for improvement too, more perhaps than any other team in Serie A with the exception of Fiorentina. But for it to be realised the romance of Zemanlandia needs to be grounded in realism, otherwise what Roma are building is no more than a castle made of sand, which, as Jimi Hendrix, sang may "fall in the sea, eventually..."

http://www.whoscored.com/Blog/suujjqkg- ... emans-Roma

[RomaShield27]

So Destro's injury has left us with only two available strikers, and we haven't called up any primavera youngsters. So we're likely to see Pjanic play in the advanced role alongside Ossy and Totti. With all the absences the team picks itself, really. Torosidis is also called-up, Zeman said he is fit and ready (although if he does play it will be before his official presentation, which is set for Monday)

http://www.asroma.it/en/news/bologna_v_roma/

Bologna-Roma stats: P140 W47 D43 L50. Biggest win: 4-0 (03/04). Biggest loss: 0-4 (63/64). Last 5 away meetings: WWWDL

Zeman this morning in which he said he doesn't need another striker (to be bought).

He also spoke about Stek: "I think it was an inappropriate interview, there are many things wrong in his statements, so it is always rationed in Rome and has to be available. "

He also said Stek is a bit isolated from his teammates as he only speaks English and so doesnt communicate that good with others, which is certainly not an ideal situation for a goalkeeper!

Pjanic was also interviewed by Roma Channel on Friday evening, , in which he said some smart things. He has a good head on his shoulders.

[forzaitalia]

I'd have thought Stek would have had at least a decent enough grasp of Italian by now, it's been a year and half now since he joined. He should have been learning from the moment he arrived really.

[red]

[Lupa]

lol, red. Too true.

Yeah, I'm surprised that Steke hasn't learned Italian by now. I know there was an issue of communication on the pitch when he first arrived, but now? I realize that neither of his languages is a latin one (unlike the many Spanish speakers on the team), but I'd think he'd have learned enough Italian to socialize with the guys. Ginger spoke only Norwegian and English when he arrived, and I know he was taking Italian lessons.

Early game tomorrow. The only good thing about that early start time is that it will be on TV, which it wouldn't be if it were the 3:00 p.m start along with most of the other games. At least I'm assuming it's on RAI.

A striker shortage is what caused Spalletti to use the 4-2-3-1. Remember the days? sigh. I doubt Zeman will get creative, but one can dream.

[RomaShield27]

Yeh, early game, Lupa. Good for me too as it means its on Setanta Sports Ireland. Its a dull FA Cup weekend meaning ESPNUK are showing nothing but that.

True alright, Red, although there is a difference in a coach running his mouth and one of his players doing the same, even if neither is really good to hear. Zeman is a cranky old sort who wont change his ways now, but a squad needs discipline and cant have players speaking out like that. I wouldn't say Goicoechea and Stek are on the best of terms in goalkeeping training now.

[pocari_fenrir]

not true Shield, with that article that David just posted, Zeman has made subtle changes

with Lamela suspended and Destro out, it's just gonna be Totti, Osvaldo and Pjanic. Destro being out of commission might be good news for Nico Lopez when he gets back, but i cant help but get the feeling that this may damage Destro's career at Roma a bit.

Stek, *sigh* dammit, he's as good as gone, 1.5 seasons and he still cant communicate with the team?! if Stek is bitchin', what's Lobont supposed to feel??

Torosidis is said to make his debut, not sure in what form. interesting punt if he started came into midfield as a mezzala (not sure if i spelt that right) and pushed Florenzi up the final third

[RomaShield27]

Bologna-Roma FORMAZIONI UFFICIALI: fuori Marquinhos, dentro Burdisso
domenica 27 gennaio 2013 11:13

Segui in diretta su Forzaroma.info la partita Bologna-Roma. Sarai aggiornato in qualsiasi istante su risultato del match e potrai leggere in tempo reale la cronaca testuale della partita, da oggi che su twitter con l’hashtag #FRbolognaroma.

BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): 25 Agliardi; 11 Motta, 43 Sorensen, 5 Antonsson, 3 Morleo; 33 Kone, 15 Perez; 23 Diamanti, 6 Taider, 18 Gabbiadini; 10 Gilardino.


ROMA (4-3-3): 13 Goicoechea; 23 Piris, 29 Burdisso, 5 Castan, 42 Balzaretti; 4 Bradley, 77 Tachtsidis, 48 Florenzi; 15 Pjanic, 9 Osvaldo, 10 Totti.