THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

Hamm + Beers + D'Amore + Galantic + Zanzi. All the names in the boardroom are starting to sound like one gigantic uber party. Who is the Hamm person, a former football player?

Ciao Pocari, good to see ya. Hope the new job ain't too stressful. What game you going to see? Things have been more interesting lately alright. At least in the sense that the season hasn't completely fallen apart yet. Strange that. A win the weekend would have been good to bounce back with, especially with a difficult trip to Naples to come next weekend – wait, we have a mid-week fixture right, at home to Cesena? Three points there. Lots of beer and ham for the lads.

[DCGweez]

Mia Hamm is perhaps the most famous US Soccer player (She's female).

[RomaShield27]

Does she like it up the ham?

[Italiamia]

Hamm at least has some credibility and DC is correct. She is not only the most famous soccer player in America, she is also beloved. However, I seriously doubt she would have been appointed if her husband was not a former Boston Red Sox player. Pallotta is big into the Boston thing. Cam Neely on the other hand is simply a former Boston Bruin hockey player and that team's current General Manager. I'm not sure I would even have a chance with Pallotta given my geographic location and allegiance to the Pittsburgh Penguins. A former Penguin, Ulf Samuellson, is 'credited' with ending Neely's career on a hit back during the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the early 1990's. The Penguins won two straight Stanley Cups, demolishing Pallotta's Bruins twice in the conference finals.

[pocari_fenrir]

Ciao Shield,

So far looking at the fixtures, planning mid March, where we host Samp or early April, where we host Napoli. Everything hinges on us getting out of CL Group Stages though since I want to catch 2 games. Samp look to be a tough nut to crack this season, they would be higher in points if they were an attacking threat. Definitely need a result over Cesena otherwise it would be difficult to go HAM on Napoli who pulled off that morale-boosting 6-2 win over Verona.

Im not so much worried about us keeping pace, it's more seeing if teams can drag Juve down a bit. Makes winning the league more believable when your direct competition drops points. A bunch of players could return in time for the Bayern away leg but we'll see

[maro]

An interestingly named guy to be involved in such matters: http://www.forzaroma.info/2014/10/28/na ... nza/384425

[Jamoldo]

I just read about Mia Hamm's appointment. At least some good has come out of it since it brought me to this board! After like 10 months. So Palotta is a Masshole (Massachussetts and asshole combined for those not in the know)... You guys see that he's got a bunch of American's of Bostonian origin at Roma now..

Hey Ita - maybe you should chase Joe Tacopina and co up in Bologna?

[RomaShield27]

Ciao Jammy. Are you saying its a bad thing that Pallotta's got a bunch of American's of Bostonian origin at Roma now? Boston has got a pretty good ancestry, no?

Slowly but surely the club is turning into Americana Roma. We'll be having cheerleaders outside the stadio next. Oh,

In all seriousness, I've always been skeptical about foreign ownership in football, and particularly in wealthy bands of consortiums in taking over clubs for profit, but I have to say most of the things Pallotta and co have done have been pretty impressive (I'm just waiting for the press conference to announce Micky D's as sponsor). They haven't made many mistakes and they've been careful in dealing with the old ways of Italian football while at the same time not being afraid to challenge the way things are (Tavecchio etc).

Board members come and go (Di Benedetto is gone from the board, but am I right in thinking he's still involved on some level, on the panel or 'hedge fund' or investors who control the whole thing?), but it doesn't really matter who is involved in the board as long as they do their job (whatever that is) and let the right people, i.e., those who actually run the club on a day to day basis, do theirs.

Pocari, be weary of booking a trip in advance for Roma v Napoli. Depending on how this weekends game goes, I wouldn't be surprised if it were a game with some fan and stadio limitations. It may be no away fans but it would still make a pretty shit atmosphere. On Juve, I can see them dropping points. They are still the team to beat but I think they may have lost some of that air of invincibility about them which Conti brought, and other teams may not be afraid to have a go. Sassuolo got a draw from them even if they were hanging on a bit.

[RomaShield27]

AS Roma (4-3-3)
Skorupski, Torosidis, Manolas, Astori, Cole, Pjanic, De Rossi, Keita, Iturbe, Destro, Gervinho

Cesena (4-3-1-2)
Agliardi, Capelli, Volta, Lucchini, Renzetti, Giorgi, De Feudis, Coppola, Defrel, Almeida, Marilungo

Totti and Nainggolan rested. Ninja in particular badly needed it. Skorupski gets the nod in the nets ahead of Morgan. Would have preferred to seen Holebas on the left instead of Cole.

Thoughts on De Rossi and Keita starting in midfield? Before the season started I imagined Keita as back-up to De Rossi, but he's shown he's capable of playing that other midfield role very well. De Rossi remains essential.

[DCGweez]

Disappointing that Paredes and Ucan still can't seem to find time. Like to see Keita brought in for less than 90.

Hopefully we can remain in the race while Strootman comes back.

[RomaShield27]

I guess RG ain't taking any chances. Would have been good to see Ucan get some game time, though maybe he will as a sub. More reports he may out on loan in January, so perhaps RG thinks he needs more experience.

[RomaShield27]

These have to be saved.

1-0 Genoa – Olimpico reaction: https://vine.co/v/OMTZ3P7iDi2
Its gets better. Nainggolan directing Rudi toward the final score of Juve match: https://t.co/8KiXVFbN5B

[DavidP]

http://gfycat.com/MajorGrayAidi

[maro]

That was a wonderful pass. A pity Destro couldn't tuck it away. I wonder if, statistically, it's unusual not only how often he gets on the scoresheet but also how rarely he gets more than one? I was hoping last night he might breakthrough with two or three - he very nearly did, for all that we didn't play particularly well.

[DavidP]

i thought it was an unusually risky ball for him to try; if the bald DM intercepts that he starts a 4 v. 4 counter and we're in trouble, but man did he execute it perfectly. the pace and accuracy on that ball is pretty much flawless and the vision to see destro's little run so quickly and react is something else. if that's not the mark of a truly great player i don't know what is.

[DCGweez]

Agreed Maro. Destro can be underwhelming at times but he continuously makes those runs and reads the game well.

It takes two players with great vision to pull that off even if i suspect Mattia was expecting it to come in the air.

[Italiamia]

@romacalcionews: Sky, Assogna: "Astori fuori 15/20 giorni, Maicon out per il Napoli ma ci sarà contro il B... http://t.co/MqRux9EhUX via @vocegiallorossa

[RomaShield27]

This man has been missed. Even if Yanga Mbiwa has filled in very well (and Astroi when he's been fit) there's a lot to be said for having your first choice defender available. We've actually coped very well in his absence when you think about it, but the sooner he's back the better, though not until November 22.


Thursday, 30 October 2014 19:46 Anthony Wright
http://www.asroma.co.uk/news/interviews ... ing-better?

Leandro Castan has asked that he and his family are given some respect after rumours suggested that the Roma defender's lengthy absence was due to the fact he had been diagnosed with cancer, but he told Roma TV that this is not the case and he is on the road to recovery.

How are you?
I'm good, thanks to God everything's fine. I can't wait to start playing again, I've missed it a lot. The important thing is that I'm feeling good, I'm happy. I'll rejoin my team-mates soon.

It's been a long time
It's been a long, difficult time with lots of problems to face together. First there were three injuries to my leg, then a head inflammation. Then I had a stomach virus which was the worst, I was feeling horrible for five days and didn't eat, and I lost a lot of weight. Now I'm fine, nothing serious like the rumours going around are saying. I'm unhappy about that, maybe someone doesn't know that I have family, children, and someone could hear those rurmours. I can tell you all that I don't have a tumour, I don't have cancer. I'm here, I'm fine, and I ask for a bit of respect because I'm not just a player, I have family too. If someone wants more accurate news then they need to find the truth. I'm happy though, I want to get back playing - I'm ready to do so, I have a huge desire to wear Roma's shirt again.

What have you made of the team recently?
The team are doing well, very well, and I'm happy about that. I knew we'd do well, we have been since last year. Important players have come in, even better than the ones we had last season. The road is long now but we're on the right path and we have to carry on because there's still a long way to go. There's no lack of desire, I'm sure that the aim we have is to make our fans happy.

The coach defined you as a 'warrior'
Sometimes it's difficult because sometimes it's not up to me, I've had to wait because of these problems. But as I said, this has given me more strength. The coach said that I'm a fighter - well, going from the little town in Brazil where I was born to arriving here in Rome, now I can really say that I am a fighter. I've overcome this new challenge, the worst is over and I'm close to returning.

The defence has been great despite your absence
I only knew Astori, I knew that he was good. I didn't know Manolas and Yanga[-Mbiwa] but they've shown themselves to be really good players. Sabatini does a fantastic job. They're great players and I can't wait to get out onto the pitch and do as well as they've been doing.

The duel with Juventus?
It's hard to talk without creating controversies. In my head I'm only thinking about our team because the road is long. I'm happy that we're close to them, I think our team is stronger than theirs and we can do better to win the scudetto.

There are still many players out injured, it shows there is a great group here
Absolutely. Me, Kevin and Balzaretti still haven't played - when we return we can help the team out to do even better.

The game in Turin?
I was still feeling bad then and that made me feel worse. I wanted to smash the TV. I saw that something changed after the game though, they were more scared compared to the other games we've lost against them in the last few years.

The 7-1 against Bayern?
I think when you have a result like that, it's an incident that only occurs once in a while. We have to look at where we made mistakes and move on - our team knows how to do fantastically. Bayern are built to win the Champions League. I'm sure it will be different in the return game, we can do well in Munich. There was a reaction afterwards, in Genoa and yesterday [against Cesena]. We can't let our heads drop, that's what football is. We just have to move on.

Your aims in the Champions League?
We have to get out of the group, then we'll see. Roma always go onto the pitch to win, we can't think about going to Munich and not think about the three points. For now we're thinking about getting out of the group, then we'll see.

Is this defence better than last year?
It's a fine defence. A lot has changed compared to last year, but both defences have done well. I have to compliment my team-mates, they're excellent.

The Napoli game?
I'd say to the fans that there has to be peace, we're not enemies. It will be a great game, fought across the pitch. Please let there be peace and calm off the pitch, enough of these things that have gone on off the pitch. Life is too important, leave the battling to those on the pitch. And I hope we win!

When will you be back?
Hopefully before November 22. I wanted to be back for the Napoli game! But I've left all the decisions to the doctors, I'm confident in them. When they tell me to get started then no one will stop me. The message I'd give to the fans is that I'm feeling good, I'll be back better than I was before. It won't be long now.

[DCGweez]

3 more weeks. Maybe he had Ebola.

[RomaShield27]

Is Ebola that new right-back for Lazio? Castan is a beast, so wouldn't put it past him.