THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[Italiamia]

Don't tell me you are a heathen too, Collucci. Your ass had better be in Church on Wednesday.

[RomaShield27]

Seen those Totti odds on twitter earlier.

Roma Legend Giacomo Losi Criticises Current Side
/ 11 Feb 2013 Anthony Wright | Print | Email

Former Roma player Giacomo Losi has criticised the current side for failing to show enough determination on the pitch to win matches. Losi, who played 451 times for the club in all competitions (second only to Francesco Totti in number of appearances), refrained from placing the blame with either Zdenek Zeman or Aurelio Andreazzoli, but was more concerned with the players themselves.

"It seems we returned to previous games, nothing has changed", Losi told tuttomercatoweb.

"The team starts well in the first half then disappears from the pitch. Inconceivable things happen. When a team doesn't have someone chosen to take penalties and free kicks, things aren't going well.

"I see a serious lack of organisation, there's no desire to do certain things. It seems strange to me because the team were on top of the situation in the first half an hour [against Sampdoria], giving the impression that they could win well, and then they lose 3-1.

"I cannot understand what it is that isn't working. Order, dedication, determination and sacrifice are missing. The formation isn't important, the same mistakes have been repeated in both. You see a great team for half an hour then you see nothing. Really everything is lacking here".

When asked about the penalty situation between Totti and Pablo Osvaldo, Losi expressed his amazement at the episode and rued the lack of direction coming from the coach.

"It was an unthinkable episode, I don't know how Totti has let this man take the penalty. Everything should be decided before the game, the coach must determine who takes the free kicks, the corners and the penalties - you must plan beforehand.

"Andreazzoli left me puzzled when he said he didn't know who should have taken it. There's a frightful anarchy here. It's a shame because the squad has the characteristics to be a good team but every game we are discussing the same things. Here, coaches change but everything remains the same".

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Sondaggio Gazzetta dello Sport, gli utenti sono con Zeman: “Richiamarlo subito”
lunedì 11 febbraio 2013 20:58

Tramite il proprio sito la Gazzetta dello Sport propone un sondaggio agli utenti. La domanda che viene posta è: La Roma affonda. Cosa fare per uscirne?
Gli utenti rispondono e i risultati sono in netta contro tendenza con quelle che sono le scelte della società. Infatti il 64,9% ha votato Richiamare subito Zeman e appoggiare le sue scelte, mentre solo il 35,1% è dell’idea di Dare fiducia ad Andreazzoli e ai senatori della squadra.

Redazione ForzaRoma.info

[RomaShield27]

Cover of today. I creamed my pants.



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Zanzi speaking to Il Romanista, via , about the new stadio. I swear, every time I read something from this cnut, he says absolutely nothing worthwhile whatsoever. Complete marketing jargon.

“The new stadium is a serious project and is an important one that will change Roma in a positive way both on and off the field. It is a concrete project that requires continued analysis, accurate assessments and decision making all of which are in full swing. This is not a small project and is something that is very important to us and will be a dream come true. We want to give the fans the opportunity to games in the best possible environment and which will help the team to win. We are confident that soon we will have new news about this. It has been very good for us to get feedback from political leaders at various levels and we will continue to support this collaboration for the duration.”

[red]

Good to know that they think the building of a stadium involves concrete.

[maro]

[Italiamia]

Thank you, Edzo.

[RomaShield27]

See for forum updates.

[maro]

[RomaShield27]

Roma Club Focus: Not The Start We Hoped For
/ Published On: Wed, Feb 13th, 2013 Club Focus / By Anthony Wright

It wasn’t quite the start Aurelio Andreazzoli was hoping for as Roma coach, but Sunday’s defeat away to Sampdoria wasn’t just undeserved – it wasn’t surprising either. Or it shouldn’t have been.

Traditionally Genoa has been a tough trip for the Giallorossi – in 113 away visits to Genoa and Sampdoria, Roma have won just 17 – and Samp had lost just twice to Roma at home since 1997. But replacing Zdenek Zeman with Andreazzoli was as much of a hurdle for Roma to overcome as it was for the Blucerchiati to face.

Before the game, Delio Rossi admitted that Roma’s decision to sack Zeman had left him in something of a quandary in his preparations for the match. “Beforehand, I knew how to take on Roma – now I only have some ideas”, he mused. Rossi’s confusion was understandable – Andreazzoli had always been a coach with the Giallorossi, and his last job as a coach was 10 years ago in what was then Serie C2.

There were many thoughts about what formation Andreazzoli would use; many thought he would use the famous 4-2-3-1 system he had developed alongside Luciano Spalletti. In the end it was a 3-5-2 formation with Miralem Pjanic slightly more advanced than Michael Bradley and Daniele De Rossi in central midfield.

If Rossi was unsure in his approach of how to confront the opposition, Roma struggled themselves in how to implement it. Zeman used a back three against Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia last month, but otherwise Roma have always used a four-man defence this season. Andreazzoli had also only had a few training sessions to put his more considered, less reckless style of play across to the team.

Fortunately for Andreazzoli, he was given an ideal chance to test out his new-look Roma in the first half against Sampdoria. After an open first few minutes, Samp largely remained on the defensive both to contain the eager Giallorossi as well as to figure them out. Roma’s high goal tally belies their recent troubles in the final third, and aside from the occasional sparkling run from Erik Lamela, they were often blunt going forwards.

Even though Samp were far more ambitious in the second half, partly due to the introduction of the excellent Gianluca Sansone who scored one and set up another, Roma did have chances of their own. Lamela scored early on but the flag was up for an offside against Marquinho, before they were given a penalty for a foul by Daniele Gastaldello.

Enter Pablo Osvaldo, who stepped up ahead of usual penalty taker Francesco Totti. The foul was on Osvaldo in the first place, but rumour has it that he wanted to take it in order to reveal a shirt that said “J.B. te amo”, dedicated to his new girlfriend Jimena Baron. Instead, Osvaldo was hiding his head in shame after a woeful penalty that was easily saved. Andreazzoli said after the game that he didn’t know why Totti hadn’t taken it, earning the scorn of Giacomo Losi who was incredulous that the penalty hierarchy wasn’t made clear before the game.

Even after Mauro Icardi had made it 3-1, Lamela was unlucky not to score his second when his header hit the bar from close range and Nico Lopez nearly stole in for a consolation goal in injury time. Although the loss means Roma are now on their worst league run in eight years, it wasn’t such a bad performance for a team playing a new style in a new formation under a new and inexperienced coach. Rossi’s tactical outwitting of Andreazzoli may have had more attention had he not lost his calm (again) and stuck his middle finger up at Nicolas Burdisso, prompting a red card.

Frustrating though the defeat was, particularly ahead of next weekend’s game against Juventus, Osvaldo must not be made a scapegoat. Vain and egotistic he certainly is, but he has also often proved to be the difference for the team on many occasions in the last 18 months. Andreazzoli is currently facing many challenges, and unity in backing the team is vital if he is to help the team move forwards. There were clear anti- and pro-Zeman camps this year, while the often unfair criticisms levelled at the inexperienced Luis Enrique eventually forced him to quit under the pressure.

Now it is general director Franco Baldini, sporting director Walter Sabatini and certain players, Osvaldo at the head of them, who are having the finger pointed at them for failing to perform. Working in such an environment adds an extra unwanted dimension to an already difficult job for Andreazzoli – if we continue in this vein, the prosperous future that James Pallotta always talks about may never actually arrive.

[Lupa]

Cagliari have reportedly won their appeal, which could in theory force Roma to replay the game that was called off on September 23.

The Serie A match was abandoned just hours before kick-off because the authorities had ruled the Is Arenas was not able to host fans due to security fears.

Cagliari President Massimo Cellino publicly invited supporters to attend anyway, prompting the officials to shut the game down. Roma were then handed a 3-0 victory by the Disciplinary Commission.

Cellino has lost several appeals against this decision and had always lost, but it’s reported this evening that the Sardinian TAR tribunal has accepted his legal action.

This would prevent the 3-0 result from being considered final and in theory even force Roma to play the game against Cagliari.



http://www.football-italia.net/30762/ca ... oma-appeal

[forzaitalia]

Another 3 points lost possibly? Oh dear - we'll be bottom half at this rate!

[AS Collie]

[Lupa]

I also wondered if a Sardinian tribunal is going to actually have higher authority than the league authorities.

[DCGweez]

If it is indeed the Sardinian Authority who ruled and not the league then FIFA will step in and decertify the game anyway as has been there practice when Civil Authority tries to overrule FAs.

[RomaShield27]

Having to replay that game would be a farce alright, as Cellino blatantly defied the rules which led to be match being cancelled, and so should have to face the consequences of his actions. Having a replay of it would make Cellino feel vindicated, even though he's acted in a farcical manner the likes of which only a powerful, rich club presidente thinks he can act.

Castan, Dodo and Destro out for Rube, but Florenzi, DDR and Osvaldo all in. Not sure if i'll get to see this one, I'll be in Firenze on Saturday but hopefully should find a bar to watch it.

[Bagg10]

Prediction: Stramaccioni to coach Roma next season.

[red]

Franco Baldini had gone for guarantees with Zdenek Zeman...

http://www.football-italia.net/30828/ca ... and-napoli

I wonder what guarantees Capello thought Zeman offered.

[p_maldini_3]

this cellino situation is turning into a comedy, also highlighting while italian football is stagnating. the fucking local councils will go through whatever lengths it takes to prevent clubs from building (in this case using) their own stadiums.

i think it's a sad situation, but you guys can't seriously think that you 'deserve' the 3 points. this seems to be a local council vs. football club issue, and we should support the football club.

then again, chances are high that you'll lose playing away to cagliari, so the fear is understandable.

[red]

Can't help but think that Juve have been terribly unfortunate to have to play away to Roma in these last two seasons just at the point Roma have decided to play in a sensible, disciplined fashion. Last season it was due to an injury crisis and this time round they've just got a coach who may not be a complete gype.

I thought Roma should have won by more goals than they did.

Ultra-basic positioning and concentration was all that was required from Roma to keep Juve at bay and Roma had countless dangerous counter-attacks that they failed to make the most of.

Still, I'm sure the Zeman fans will be bemoaning how boring Roma's defensive, counter-attacking win was...

[Italiamia]

Win.