THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[p_maldini_3]

Sounds awesome on paper.

[DCGweez]

Can't help but think that had we had Destro (Or any proper number 9) we'd have a few more points. They are often the difference against those smaller sides who play for a point.

[p_maldini_3]

if you didn't have borriello you'd have 2 less points.

and i can't help but think that if we hadn't sold ibra and instead bought both messi and ronaldo, we would've had a few more points too.

[maro]

Don't make Davit come in here and correct your grammar.

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

Imbattuti a Natale: nella storia della Roma era successo solo un’altra volta
/ lunedì 23 dicembre 2013 / 16:54

(di Luca Parmigiani) In appena sei mesi di lavoro a Roma, Rudi Garcia ha rivoluzionato il mondo giallorosso. Il tecnico francese è infatti l’autentico artefice di un campionato condotto ad alti livelli, come testimoniano i numeri: 41 punti in 17 giornate e miglior difesa d’Europa con appena 7 gol incassati. Eppure i giallorossi non sono primi in classifica ma inseguono la Juventus a cinque punti di distacco. I bianconeri stanno viaggiando a una velocità incredibile, tanto che nella stagione passata a questo punto del campionato avevano cinque punti in meno.

Rudi Garcia in questi quattro mesi di stagione ha tuttavia stabilito diversi record, sia nel panorama romanista che nazionale: la Roma infatti è l’unica squadra ad aver vinto le prime 10 partite nell’intera storia della Serie A, superando il precedente primato della Juventus a 9 vittorie.

A questi record, ieri se ne è aggiunto un altro: l’allenatore francese ha eguagliato Fabio Capello arrivando imbattuto in campionato a Natale. Prima della partita contro il Catania, era successo solo nella stagione 2003-04 di arrivare senza sconfitte alla sosta natalizia. Allora Don Fabio collezionò 36 punti in 14 giornate, con 11 vittorie e 3 pareggi.

Si può dire tuttavia che Garcia si è spinto oltre visto che i giallorossi hanno giocato 17 gare prima della pausa (allora la Serie A era a 18 squadre). Quest’anno infatti i ragazzi del tecnico di Nemours sono arrivati alla sosta con 12 vittorie e 5 pareggi: sarà un altro record parziale, di quelli che a Garcia piacciono poco perché “conta l’obiettivo finale” ma è pure vero che ciò attesta l’affidabilità e la consapevolezza di un gruppo che in queste prime 17 giornate ha dimostrato forza, qualità e personalità per poter rimanere al vertice.

Imbattuti a Natale: la Roma e tutto l’ambiente spera di esserlo anche dopo l’Epifania.

[RomaShield27]

Good win yesterday. Not a spectacular performance despite the high scoreline, and the second goal with the howler from their keeper effectively ended the game. Great to see Destro on the scoresheet again. Also good to see Totti back even if he did look a bit leggy, but the break will do him good now to get back to top form for Juventus. Benatia was savage once again, and nice touch to see him as captain when Totti went off.

And what a great moment this was, Totti off for 19-year-old Federico Ricci, love the smiles:

[RomaShield27]

Make it happen, Santa Sabatini:

Torino, Cerci: “Non è un segreto che in futuro mi piacerebbe tornare alla Roma”
/ martedì 24 dicembre 2013 10:04

Nel corso della trasmissione ‘Tiki Taka’ su Italia Uno è stato intervistato Alessio Cerci. L’attaccante granata ha parlato tra le altre cose del suo futuro:

“Non è un segreto che in futuro mi piacerebbe tornare alla Roma. Se sono pronto per la Champions? Certo, se non lo fossi a 26 anni! Sono maturo e mi sento pronto per il salto di qualità“.

[RomaShield27]

Roma Club Focus – The Story So Far… Breaking Records May Not Be Enough
/ Published On: Fri, Dec 27th, 2013 Club Focus / By Anthony Wright

Roma finished 2013 on a high with a morale boosting 4-0 win against Catania, keeping them comfortably in second place for Christmas with a brilliant 41 points from 17 games.

The season so far has far exceeded pre-season expectations – last season it took until March for Roma to reach the current points tally.

Rudi Garcia’s reception when he arrived over the summer was a cool one, largely somewhere between ‘who is he?’ to ‘we should have got someone better known’.

Walter Sabatini’s choice has proven to be absolutely spot on though, as Garcia oversaw a record-breaking start with 10 wins in a row at the start of the season. The Giallorossi only faltered recently by dropping points against the likes of Sassuolo and Cagliari just as Juventus hit their stride with nine consecutive wins of their own. A confident performance in the final game of the calendar year was needed against Catania and duly arrived as Garcia showed his flexibility by changing his team’s tactical shape.

Tactical shifts/changes

Roma have generally played 4-3-3 this season, with occasional shifts to a 4-2-3-1 shape. Playing 4-3-3, Roma’s strikers interchange positions to create extra problems for opposition defences, while the midfield three usually consists of one shielding midfielder (De Rossi), one playmaker (Pjanic) and another who will support both defensively and offensively (Strootman).

Without De Rossi or Strootman against Catania, Garcia chose to start with a 4-2-3-1 shape but pointed out afterwards that “we’ve used it before, today we just used it with four forwards”. There has been the occasional shift during games from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1, particularly in the last couple of months.

With Francesco Totti and Marco Borriello injured, and Mattia Destro only just returning from his long layoff, the Giallorossi have had to play more of a striker-less formation, somewhat similar to Luciano Spalletti’s 4-6-0. In this sense, the return of a recognised centre forward in Destro (3 goals in 3 games) has been almost as important as Totti’s return.

Star performer: Francesco Totti

There have been a lot of impressive performers so far this season: Kevin Strootman, Mehdi Benatia, Alessandro Florenzi and Gervinho among them, but it is difficult not to say Totti. It was not a coincidence that Roma’s results levelled off and the goals started to dry up after Totti (and Gervinho, to be fair) picked up an injury against Napoli.

Totti - RomaThe captain has always been the focus of Roma’s attack, generally acting as the pivot around which the two wide forwards rotate but occasionally moving out to one wing himself, and still creates moments of magic on the pitch (such as the stunning piece of skill that set up the counter attack for Roma’s third against Inter in October). How long Roma can continue to rely on their talisman to bail them out of trouble is up for debate, but once again Totti has been the real difference for his team this year.

Worst performer: Federico Balzaretti/Dodo

The whole team has been far exceeding expectations this season so it is hard to nominate a ‘worst’ performer, but left back has been Roma’s weakest position. Federico Balzaretti’s form has improved from last season and became a cult hero when he broke down in tears after scoring in the derby, but he is still not putting in the level of performances he is capable of.

In Balzaretti’s recent absence, Dodo has done little to suggest that he is a credible alternative. Although he is enthusiastic and offers support in attack, there is little end product, while he is also defensively suspect.

Transfer of the season: Kevin Strootman

The Dutchman has been a consistent, reliable performer in the midfield and has been effective in all areas of the pitch, helping out De Rossi in protecting the defence as well as weighing in with four goals. Roma paid an initial €16.5m, rising to €20m, to sign him from PSV in the summer but Strootman said he paid no mind to the high transfer fee and instead took it as a sign of the faith the club had put in him.

Six months on, it is already looking like money very well spent. Although his agent has stressed that Strootman will remain in Rome for the long haul, the club must make holding onto him in January one of their top priorities amid interest from Manchester United.

Milestone moment

September 22 – Roma 2-0 Lazio. Back in the early stages of the season, it was the perfect opportunity for Garcia’s team to start to atone for last May and for the coach to win over the lingering doubters among the fans. The Giallorossi had not won any of the Balzaretti - Romaprevious five meetings, but goals from Balzaretti and Adem Ljajic gave Roma the win in a tense derby.

It was their first real test of the season after opening games against two promoted teams and Parma, but Roma came through it and the morale boost for the team and the reconcilement with the Curva after last May’s performance that it produced spurred Roma on to another six more wins.

What needs to happen in the second half of the season

More of the same! One or two additions may be needed in January to give the squad more options as they do not have the squad depth of Juventus, and keeping Totti and Destro fit will be vital to any chances of success this season. But by and large Roma just need to keep doing what they have been doing; competing for the scudetto is far beyond this season’s expectations, but even if it is an unsuccessful challenge, finishing in the top three for Champions League qualification would be a fantastic sign of progress.

[DCGweez]

#Roma set to pay #Porto the €15m clause for Iturbe then €5m plus #Bradley to #Verona at the end of the season.

[RomaShield27]

Is it €5m plus Bradley to Verona as well as the €15m, yes? Although why would we pay anything to Verona if he is owned by Porto and has a €15m release clause?

Good piece on Maledetta Primavera on the mercato and 'FINDING THE BALANCE':

http://maledettaprimavera.net/2013/12/2 ... e-balance/

[DCGweez]

Because Verona own the buyout right so in essence they own the player i suppose.

[RomaShield27]

Happy new year, Romanisti. Hope ye all had a good one. I stayed in on New Year's eve myself, how sad am I? Maybe I'm just getting old.

Are we all looking forward to the game on Sunday? Should be a cracker. Especially with Rizzoli reffin it. This from James Horncastle will wet the appetite even further:

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/calcioita ... 53?cc=5739

[maro]

http://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/91002 ... -suspended

Typical of the guy - always prepared to take the personal hit to defend his teammates.

[RomaShield27]

CONVOCATI: http://romanews.eu/it,a123088/Juventus- ... Assente-Br

Everyone called up bar Balzaretti. Dodo at left-back worries me. Because he's in defence. And its Dodo. And he's in defence. Etc. I'd be surprised if Ljajic starts as RomaNews thinks, Destro is rumoured to be in frame for a start, although I think I'd go for Florenzi just because of his better defensive ability and work rate. He was suffering with an injured back but Garcia said he's fine.

PROSSIMA PARTITA: Juventus-Roma (Juventus Stadium, 5 gennaio, ore 20:45)
SQUALIFICATI: -
DIFFIDATI: Pjanic, Florenzi, Maicon, Ljajic
INDISPONIBILI: Balzaretti
IN DUBBIO: -
PROBABILE FORMAZIONE (4-3-3): De Sanctis; Maicon, Benatia, Castan, Dodò; Pjanic, De Rossi, Strootman; Ljajic, Totti, Gervinho
BALLOTTAGGI: Florenzi-Ljajic / Destro-Ljajic

Preview: http://asroma.co.uk/news/match-previews ... entus-roma

Garcia conferenza stampa: http://www.romanews.us/2014/01/04/rudi- ... oma-match/
http://www.asroma.it/en/news/rudi_garci ... _pre_juve/

[arthurfonzarelli]

I think we're going to win tomorrow. I think Totti's gonna have a good game. If we win tomorrow, I think we'll win the scudetto.

[maro]

If you're wrong - on either count - you can expect another snake in your letter-box.

[DCGweez]

Moment of truth today. Need a result, a win would make a partial believer out of me.

I can't remember the last time we were even close to playing for the win against Juve. It's been at least 3 seasons.

[Lupa]

I can't remember, either. I dread the impact of a loss, which I think would put us in a tailspin. All the talk about a European spot being our goal is just that -- talk.

[RomaShield27]

Ive just been watching this:



Last time we won there? What great commentary by Zampa on Riise's gol.