THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[DCGweez]

Apparently we've signed Cedric Tchoutou from our Prima to the Rosa.

He's a winger.

[DCGweez]

and Bravo Davit

[romawi]

[RomaShield27]

Florenzi revives memories of Perrotta
Friday September 27 2013 / http://www.football-italia.net/39953/fl ... s-perrotta

As Roma sit at the top of Serie A, Michele Martinelli takes a closer look at an Alessandro Florenzi who is doing his best Simone Perrotta impression.

“Is Alessandro Florenzi the new you? Yes, but he can’t miss the amount of goals that I used to,” smiled Simone Perrotta. “He has that ability to throw himself into space. He is a player with great potential, one who importantly can do well for the Roma cause.”

Although a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, the now 36-year-old was a substance over style player. He, like Florenzi, was a versatile midfielder, one wiling to do the donkey work that others with greater technical ability were exempt from.

The recently retired man, who was actually born in Ashton-under-Lyne, played a pivotal role in all of Roma’s most recent title challenges. And, on the evidence of this season so far, it looks like the 22-year-old could have a similar impact.

Perrotta began his professional career playing in Serie B before joining Juventus. Here he was deemed surplus to requirements and was farmed out to Bari on a co-ownership deal. Bari bought the other half of his contract for €300,000 in 2001. He spent another year at Bari and then moved to Chievo, before joining Roma in 2004.

In 2011, Florenzi, who is a product of the Trigoria youth academy, headed to Serie B club Crotone as part of a loan with option to buy deal. At the end of the season, Crotone exercised their right to purchase half of his contract for €250,000. Roma, realising their mistake, immediately signed him back for five times that price.

Part of the reason for his return was Zdenek Zeman, the demanding 4-3-3 Coach who had been impressed by Florenzi in the Second Division while he was in charge of Pescara. Florenzi, now an Italian international, has not looked back and in his breakout season made 25 starting appearances and scored three League goals. Exactly the same amount as Perrotta during his first term with the capital club.

This time around, more is expected of the young Roman – especially after his two strikes in five games so far. In Roma’s first tie he stepped into the starting line up against Livorno and scored. The goal in itself was a nice effort – a long pass from midfield, which Florenzi hit first time – but more importantly he brought a certain balance to a team which is now bossed by Rudi Garcia.

Although he lacks the touch and vision of club legend Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi’s ability to dominate the midfield, the youngster is viewed well by the fans given that he is Roman born and bred. That is inevitably seeing him hailed as a future captain once Totti and then De Rossi are dethroned at the Stadio Olimpico.

His ability and willingness to run himself into the ground for his teammates gives Roma a player they have been missing since they last challenged for the title. He also has a certain level of technique and pace, which have seen him fielded as an attacking midfielder, winger and even a full-back. Three positions which the under-rated Perrotta covered during his career.

“Perrotta, a key man in the changing room, was an example to me,” Florenzi noted of his former colleague in the capital. “On and off the field.

[DavidP]

thanks guys. i think i'll post it in the ddr thread.

[RomaShield27]

Nice stiff, Davey. I can almost forgive you for that last video you made. Almost.

(Ok ok, I'll even give you a tweet out on the forums account)

[maro]

Anyone else think it's coincidence that DDR is back playing so well when he's being played as a holding midfielder sitting in front of the back four and without key play-making responsibilities? And so far this season it hasn't seemed to be holding the team back all that much either.

[RomaShield27]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1789 ... rcias-roma?

https://twitter.com/SerieAForums/status ... 6317261825

[DCGweez]

[Lupa]

Buon compleanno, capitano!

Nice vid, David. I don't know which other one Shield isn't sure about forgiving you for - Ibra?

Oh, it's way too early to get ahead of ourselves. This is Roma, remember?

Any of you keen analysts have any suggestion as to why we aren't scoring in first halves and suggestions for what Rudi should do? Now that we know he reads here.

[maro]

Everyone, DCG? I've seen only uninterrupted caution and self-protective skepticism in these parts. I think I've got a solid bead on the why, Lupa, but not on the should - I reckon I could have got us more first-half goals, but I'm less sure that would have gone along with 15 points from five games. Not that I'm a keen analyst - at least, hardly in both senses of the word if in either.

[red]

[DavidP]

[DCGweez]

[red]

I recall someone in Conte's first season at Juve saying how Conte couldn't be judged as a coach until we saw him react to a loss.

Meant a judgement couldn't be passed on the coach who'd won the title unbeaten, which was slightly odd.

[DCGweez]

Good point. Our plane could crash rendering my statement invalid also.

[p_maldini_3]

[romawi]

[Lupa]

Squad list for tomorrow's game
Coach Rudi Garcia has announced the matchday squad for tomorrow’s game against Bologna.

Rome, September 29 2013
ROMA v Bologna
AS Roma squad list:
BALZARETTI
BENATIA
BORRIELLO
BURDISSO
CAPRARI
CASTAN
DE ROSSI
DE SANCTIS
DODÒ
FLORENZI
GERVINHO
JEDVAJ
LJAJIC
LOBONT
MARQUINHO
PJANIC
RICCI
ROMAGNOLI
SKORUPSKI
STROOTMAN
TADDEI
TOROSIDIS
TOTTI

As far as our first half play goes, maybe the cautious approach in the first half isn't so bad, as long as we're winning. In the words of former Toronto Raptor, Charles Oakley "If it ain't broke, don't break it"

[RomaShield27]

http://www.forzaroma.info/2013/09/29/ro ... bbi/267050

So no Maicon for two weeks. So Dodo or Torosidis to replace him? Depends on if Torosidis is deemed match fit and ready after his injury, or if Balza moves to the right with Dodo on the left. Also Ljajic pushing for a place, possibly in place of Gervinho. Gervinho, it has to be said, done well against Samp. Well, as well as a headless chicken can do, anyway. And a certain number 10 to return.

Preview Roma-Bologna: http://asroma.co.uk/news/match-previews ... ma-bologna

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«Grazie per tutto questo amore»
/ Sabato 28 Settembre 2013 09:43 / VALERIA META
La parola più ricorrente nel trentasettesimo compleanno di Francesco Totti è stata "immenso". Un po’ perché ormai l’aggettivo è diventato una specie di formula quando si parla di lui ("unicoimmensoCapitano", scritto tutto d’un fiato perché è così che si pronuncia, prima o poi verrà accolto dai vocabolari), un po’ perché in una giornata così anche le sue emozioni erano difficili da quantificare. «Sentire gli auguri da mio padre, dal mister e lo staff, dai dirigenti e dai compagni è un’emozione unica - ha detto il Capitano a Roma Channel -. Tutto questo amore nei miei confronti è qualcosa di indescrivibile».

I messaggi di auguri hanno cominciato ad arrivare presto: «Prestissimo, già da ieri a mezzanotte (giovedì, ndr). È un paicere riceverli, ma mi sono arrivati tutti insieme e non ho tempo per rispondere, però ringrazio amici e parenti per questi auguri sinceri». Le sorprese eclatanti erano nell’aria già dalla vigilia e le attese non sono state deluse: gli auguri sono arrivati dal cielo, con lo striscione trainato da un aereo che ha sorvolato il Bernardini mentre la squadra era in campo per l’allenamento ("per te parla la storia, auguri immenso Capitano") e anche dalla terra, con il camioncino pubblicitario "vestito" con due gigantografie di Totti. In più Totti ha trovato ad attenderlo a Trigoria anche un’imponente torta da 37 kg decorata con un pallone e un elmo romano poggiato sopra al Colosseo. Con quella il Capitano ha brindato insieme a squadra, staff e dirigenza, non prima però di aver regolarmente terminato l’ultimo allenamento prima della rifinitura in vista della gara di domani con il Bologna. «Io in splendida forma nonostante l’età? Beh, mi devo mantenere...», scherza Totti, che fra tutti gli auguri arrivati sceglie di dedicare un pensiero «a quelli dei tifosi. Loro sono la mia forza e mi danno la forza per fare grandi cose con questa maglia». Un compleanno che arriva in un momento come la Roma non ne viveva da anni, «ma io lo vivo con serenità e tranquillità. Il campionato è lungo,ci sono 33 partite, ci sono squadre più forti di noi che riusciranno a dire la loro. Non avendo le coppe possiamo allenarci e fare una grande stagione, ma dipende da noi».

E poi ci sono i messaggi dei compagni di squadra, da quelli che ti aspetti come il «che Dio ti benedica» di Rodrigo Taddei a quelli decisamente più originali. «Qui è il venditore di tappeti che parla - esordisce un istrionico Mehdi Benatia -. Auguri Capitano, 37 anni, non ci credo... sei un vero campione». «Lo ringrazio - risponde Totti -. Benatia è devstante, nessuno si sarebbe aspettato che potesse giocare in questo modo». Parole speciali anche da Daniele De Rossi: «Sono 37, sono abbastanza, chi ti parla è capitan futuro con il cuore in mano. Ormai questo capitan futuro è una condanna per me perché non smetterai mai, mi dovrò fare una fascia con scritto vicecapitano. Giusto perché sei te, lo posso accettare... ti chiedo solo, oltre alle emozioni già vissute insieme, di farmi vincere quest’anno. Complimenti per il rinnovo, al prossimo dovrai fare il dirigente e io lo dovrò fare con te, quindi mettiti una mano sulla coscienza... e tanti auguri!». Totti ascolta e sorride: «Ringrazio Daniele, con lui ho un rapporto speciale. Da una parte spero che possa diventare capitano il prima possibile... dall’altra no».