THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

[Italiamia]

I saw it from one of your twits right here. So where does this 'Ed Spino Designs' come from then? Do you pronounce in the Anglo/American way, Sp-eye-no, or the proper Italian pronunciation?

[RomaShield27]

'Ed Spino Designs' – where did that come from? I have no idea?! I suppose I'd pronounce it the first way?

[Italiamia]

[maro]

Come on, threadmund - rhymes with Pinot, not with wino.

[Italiamia]

[maro]

Well, he drinks cider and has a small willy - to think we've spent such time in the company of such a one. Fortunately for you it's tax-deductible as pro bono work.

[Italiamia]

[maro]

True. He probably also thinks that pro bono is some kind of campaign to get U2 knighthoods.

[DCGweez]

Haha yeah he probably has no idea that's the latin name for Gigolo.

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

/ Thursday, 30 January 2014 19:33 / By

Miralem Pjanic was interviewed by Roma Channel on Thursday evening, where he spoke about his desire to stay at the club despite PSG's interest, Rudi Garcia and the difference he has made compared to previous coaches, and going to the World Cup with Bosnia-Herzegovina. Here is the full interview.

How are you? Is your knee problem over?
I'm better, I took a knock against Juventus two weeks ago but I played through it there. I've done a bit of specialised work this week, so I hope it will get better. But it feels good, so I'm happy.

The advantage of this squad is that the big players like you can be rested.
It's important. The coach can count on a large squad and everyone is ready. Any player that the coach picks will give his best, we believe in ourselves and in what we're doing, which makes it easier for the coach. It's important for us to have a strong team with a lot of quality, we're aiming high and the squad wants to win.

Last summer I saw you had less conviction in what you were saying, were you stung by May 26?
We had two very difficult years, which no one was expecting. I wanted us to hit back, I knew that we had the players to do it - we needed a different mentality to what we had before. Now things have changed, this year we got off on the right foot and the squad got its confidence back. Now every player's quality is showing, but nothing is over yet. We know that the league is long, we want to continue at this pace. Our aims are high but reachable. What we think about in the dressing room is normal.

What objectives are you aiming for?
High ones. If we finish lower than second the team would be disappointed. The season we're having so far is a good one. We're looking behind us, of course, but more so ahead of us. Juventus are having an extraordinary season but there's a long way to go still, lots of things can change.

You got a few criticisms this summer and you expressed your disappointment.
I heard that some people, I won't say everyone, thought that I wasn't giving my all. Everything began with some quotes that I never said [about Senad Lulic in the cup final]. It wasn't true, I would never allow myself to say things like that for the team and my team-mates. I was furious, I knew that it hadn't come from me. But what made me more annoyed was that some people thought I hadn't given my best. That's not true either. I always give my all on the pitch, it's true that sometimes we didn't achieve what we wanted because the squad wasn't rotating as well. This year we are, every player's quality is showing which is different compared to previous years. This has been a motivation for me, I started off well, and now I'm happy with what I'm doing but especially for the team and how we responded after a difficult defeat.

What is the moment you have the best memory of?
It's not mine but actually [Federico] Balzaretti's goal against Lazio. It was a wonderful moment, a victory that I had been waiting for for a long time because we had come off the loss on May 26. That win really did a lot to help us and the fans.

You scored with a great lob, but Alessandro Florenzi has got above you in our fans' Top 10 with his overhead kick.
Both of them are beautiful goals. Congratulations to him, it was a fantastic goal that is difficult to carry out.

Someone wants to take you away from Rome, the fans are worried.
The supporters should be calm, I still have a year and a half on my contract. I know that other teams are interested in me but I'm negotiating [a renewal] with Roma, they know what I think. I've become a true fan of this team, I've really started to become tied to the fans and the city. This is very important for a player. This year the place is more calm and serene, and the club and us players can feel that. It's really nice to play here and I want to win trophies here. I'm really enjoying it here.

Now Roma are bringing in top players and the talent of the future. Is there a reason for that?
There is a reason because there are the results and a style of play which other players recognise by watching us. For the players it's always important to see quality players arrive, as they did in the summer. We want everyone to stay and the club are doing very well, I've seen in the last few days that young players have been bought who will improve at other clubs. That's important for the future. It's always good for us players to see top players like [Radja] Nainggolan come in. It shows that the club wants to aim high and this was also the case in the summer.

Qualifying for the World Cup with Bosnia-Herzegovina must have been a special moment.
Yes, it was very emotional. It was a dream, especially for the people who have been waiting so long for it. After what has happened in Bosnia, better times are coming even if the situation isn't the best. When the national team play the fans give us so much love, we played for them and we're proud to go to Brazil with this shirt.

Do you talk about what has happened in your countries with Adem Ljajic and Tin Jedvaj? You've mentioned it a lot in interviews.
I have done and I don't have a problem with it. What's happened has happened. I don't have memories about it because I was out of the country, but the images remained. Now the situation is changing. The new generation, which is us, doesn't talk a lot about what happened. We talk about other things amongst ourselves, but not about those ugly things.

What advice has your father given you, as a former footballer?
He talks a lot to me, even now, he gives me criticisms and he tells me when I'm doing well. He's brought me forward, he's made me grow, he's the only one who has followed me intently - he's watched me grow since I was a boy. The other day I spoke with [Walter] Sabatini and he said a phrase to me that my father has said many times - "From the first ball you touch, you can understand whether or not you will be the difference in a game".

There has been a jump in quality with Rudi Garcia.
His style is based on dominating the game, on ball possession. He gives the keys to the game to the midfield and this has worked very well. The coach has given me a lot of confidence, I am really enjoying it. He has understood how I play and how the others play - you can see the results and we always try to give our all. I can tell you it's true that the coach has helped everyone.

From the official statistics, you win back a lot of possession. Is there a reason why this is the case this year?
The way we play is different to before. The unit is a lot more compact and we press high up the pitch, which is why I'm able to win the ball back. 'We didn't know about this Miralem' is something that has driven me forward. We defend and attack with 11 people.

Are you thinking about Juventus?
We think about them every week that we play, we always look out for other teams. It's an added motivation, but we have to be focused on ourselves and not think about others too much. We mustn't take anyone for granted and should respect every opponent. By following the coach, the team can achieve important objectives. We're playing in the semi final of the Coppa Italia, which is another big objective. The league is still open. Now there are a lot of important games coming up and we'll see where we end up.

What game are you expecting against Parma?
They play a lot, they don't retreat back like other teams. They're dangerous - they have speed and quality. But we're playing at home, not to win would be a bad thing for us. We will respect them but at home we've won a lot of games, this is our strength. Our fans give us an added drive, like when we won against Juventus. The supporters can be the difference and we hope to play in such a full stadium every Sunday. We need them.

"The league, the Coppa Italia and the World Cup. What are you dreaming about?
Until the end of May I will be focused 200% on Roma, then I'll play in the World Cup. But before anything else I'll keep wanting to do well with Roma, I hope to remain physically fit and then I'll have the time to prepare myself for a great World Cup.

[maro]

I'd rather he just focused 100% on Roma. Focusing 200% sounds like it could be exhausting.

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

Preview: Roma-Parma
Saturday, 01 February 2014 10:49 / Anthony Wright / http://asroma.co.uk/news/match-previews ... roma-parma

Roma will kick off a hectic fortnight on Sunday when they host Roberto Donadoni's Parma, who have not lost a league game since November.

14.00, 2 February | Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Over the next two weeks, Rudi Garcia's side have two legs of their Coppa Italia semi final with Napoli either side of the Rome derby before hosting Sampdoria on February 16. The defence has been bolstered by the arrival of Rafael Toloi on loan from Sao Paulo after Nicolas Burdisso left for Genoa, and the Brazilian took part in his first training session on Saturday.

Roma's preparations for Sunday's game have been slightly hampered as they were unable to use the training pitches on Friday due to the weather, and were forced to train in the gym. However Saturday's session took place as normal, with Federico Balzaretti and Dodo absent due to injuries. Vasilis Torosidis is expected to start at left back, though Alessio Romagnoli could fill in if required. Miralem Pjanic still has a slight knee problem but should start in midfield as Radja Nainggolan is suspended and Marquinho has been loaned to Verona.

Parma have included new signings Cristian Molinaro and Ezequiel Schelotto in their squad but it is expected to be too early for them to take to the starting line-up, while Felipe serves a one-match ban and Joel Obi is injured.

Referee: Andrea De Marco (Chiavari).

Roma squad: Michel Bastos, Mehdi Benatia, Simone Battaglia, Leandro Castan, Daniele De Rossi, Morgan De Sanctis, Mattia Destro, Alessandro Florenzi, Gervinho, Tin Jedvaj, Adem Ljajic, Bogdan Lobont, Maicon, Miralem Pjanic, Federico Ricci, Alessio Romagnoli, Lukasz Skorupski, Rodrigo Taddei, Vasilis Torosidis, Francesco Totti.

Injured: Federico Balzaretti, Dodo.
Suspended: Radja Nainggolan (1 game).
Diffidati: Alessandro Florenzi, Maicon, Miralem Pjanic.

Parma squad: Afriye Acquah, Amauri, Pavol Bajza, Jonathan Biabiany, Alberto Cerri, Mattia Cassani, Antonio Cassano, Marijan Coric, Daniele Galloppa, Walter Gargano, Massimo Gobbi, Alessandro Lucarelli, Marco Marchionni, Jose Mauri, Antonio Mirante, Cristian Molinaro, Gianni Munari, Gabriel Paletta, Raffaele Palladino, Marco Parolo, Jonathan Rossini, Dembel Sall, Ezequiel Schelotto.

Injured: Joel Obi, Nicola Pavarini.
Suspended: Felipe (1 game).

[RomaShield27]

ROMA (4-3-3): De Sanctis; Maicon, Benatia, Castan, Torosidis; Pjanic, De Rossi, Strootman; Florenzi, Totti, Gervinho

Substitutes: Lobont, Skorupski, Romagnoli, Jedvaj, Bastos, Taddei, Battaglia, Ricci, Destro, Ljajic
Coach: Rudi Garcia
Unavailable: Balzaretti, Dodo, Toloi
Suspended: Nainggolan
On warning: Maicon, Pjanic, Florenzi

PARMA (4-3-3): Mirante; Cassani, Paletta, Lucarelli, Gobbi; Gargano, Marchionni, Parolo; Bianiany, Amauri, Cassano

Substitutes: Bajza, Rossini, Acquah, Molinaro, Galloppa, Schelotto, Coric, Mauri, Munari, Palladino, Cerri, Sall
Coach: Roberto Donadoni
Unavailable: Pavarini, Obi
Suspended: Felipe
On warning: Acquah

-------------

Great Roma January mercato round-up here: http://asroma.co.uk/news/editorials/ite ... w-round-up

[RomaShield27]

Highlights:

[DCGweez]

http://www.gazzetta.it/include_hp/VideoWall.shtml?pos=3

[RomaShield27]

Tim Cup: stasera Roma-Napoli, semifinale per 50.000
/ mercoledì 5 febbraio 2014 12:31

Roma e Napoli si sfidano stasera, alle 20:45 (diretta Rai Uno), per la semifinale d’andata di Tim Cup. Nonostante il clima avverso e la pioggia che persiste nella capitale, la partita dovrebbe disputarsi regolarmente allo stadio Olimpico dove sono attesi quasi 50.000 spettatori. Il tecnico giallorosso Rudi Garcia schiera la migliore formazione possibile, ad eccezione di capitan Totti, che necessita di rifiatare per essere pronto per il derby di domenica. I terzini saranno Maicon e Torosidis (visti gli infortuni di Dodo’ e Balzaretti). Possibile impiego a gara in corso del brasiliano Bastos, soffiato proprio al Napoli. Al centro della difesa la collaudata coppia Benatia-Castan. Certe le presenze in mezzo al campo di De Rossi e Strootman con Nainggolan che e’ in vantaggio su Pjanic, non al top della forma. Il tridente d’attacco sara’ composto da Ljajic (favorito su Florenzi), Destro e Gervinho.

La Coppa Italia e’ un obiettivo importante anche per il Napoli di Rafa Benitez, che spera di uscire dalla crisi con una prestazione convincente. Il tecnico spagnolo conferma Fernandez e Albiol al centro, quindi Maggio a destra e Ghoulam, pronto all’esordio dal primo minuto, al posto di Reveillere. Rispetto al match di Bergamo, torna Jorginho accanto a Inler. Convocato anche Behrami. Sulla trequarti solito ballottaggio Insigne-Mertens, Hamsik per Pandev e Callejon. Higuain sara’ il terminale offensivo.

Queste le probabili formazioni:
ROMA (4-3-3): De Sanctis; Maicon, Benatia, Castan, Torosidis; Nainggolan, De Rossi, Strootman; Ljajic, Destro, Gervinho. A disp. Lobont, Skorupski, Romagnoli, Jevdaj, Bastos, Pjanic, Ricci, Taddei, Florenzi, Totti. All. Garcia.
NAPOLI (4-2-3-1): Reina; Maggio, Fernandez, Albiol, Ghoulam; Inler, Jorginho; Callejon, Hamsik, Insigne; Higuain. A disp.: Rafael, Colombo, Reveillere, Uvini, Britos, Behrami, Radosevic, Dzemaili, Bariti, Pandev, Mertens, Zapata. All. Benitez.
Arbitro: Bergonzi.

[DCGweez]

For whatever reason I have a bad feeling we are gonna lose this game.