THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

The big question: to drop Daniele De Rossi or not? He had a bit of howler v Sassuolo: a stupid red-card, personal problems, and Keita is possibly a better option than him at the moment.

However, reasons not to drop him: his added defensive value to shore up an already shaky defence – 6 goals conceded in last 4 games, Manolas and Mbiwa looking a little exposed, constant changes to the full-backs, basically an unsettled denfensive set-up. DDR's ability to anticipate oppositions attacks, snuff out through balls, be in the right place at the right time to clear/block, will still be vital. Plus, with City having to go for it, needing victory (or a score draw), an extra defensive player would be important.

What do we think, what midfield would you go for?

[forzaitalia]

Judging by Garcia's press conference earlier this afternoon, I think DDR will be starting. I'd pick him too, as you've stated Shield there's a lot more reasons not to drop him than to drop him!

[DavidP]

it's a tough one fred. keita offers so much going forward even if he sometimes hesitates a bit too much. on the other hand, the way he plays leaves us a little exposed, he's pretty lazy with his movement off the ball and when pjanic, totti and maicon are all playing his contributions in attack aren't too sorely missed.

daniele has been all over the place recently and i'm not sure if the protection he provides is what it once was. he does tend to do well in big games though so maybe trusting him tomorrow isn't the worst decision rudi could make.

[Italiamia]

Interesting the way you appear to be abandoning De Rossi, Edzo. You had much more patience with that scumbag Vucinic. In fact, I am still not sure you are over the Vucinic saga. Or maybe even the Zeman saga. Remind me again how he's doing over there in Cagliari.

[RomaShield27]

Abandoning De Rossi? I was proposing the question because all predicted line-ups and popular opinion on twitter was that DDR would be dropped. If anything, I have been defending him and highlighting arguments as to why he shouldn't. He is having his personal problems, which are possibly the reasons why he's not been as influential this season, but I still think he should start, in such a big occasion, like David said, for his experience and defensive ability.

[AS Collie]

So what have I missed?

[RomaShield27]

We've been shit since you were gone? Coincidence?

----------

Roma (4-3-3): De Sanctis; Maicon, Manolas, Yanga-Mbiwa, Cholevas; Keita, Pjanic, Nainggolan; Gervinho, Totti, Ljajic
A disp.: Skorupski, Astori, Cole, De Rossi, Florenzi, Iturbe, Destro
All.: Garcia

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy, Fernandinho, Fernando, Navas, Nasri, Milner, Dzeko
A disp.: Cabellero, Sagna, Kolarov, Boyata, Lampard, Silva, Jovetic.
All.: Pellegrini

Arbitro: Milorad Mažić (SRB)
Assistenti: Milovan Ristić (SRB) , Dalibor Djurdjević (SRB)
Assistente arbitrale aggiunto: Danilo Grujić (SRB) , Dejan Filipovic (SRB)
Quarto arbitro: Dejan Petrović (SRB)

[AS Collie]

[DCGweez]

De Rossi has been terrible of late and i even suggested last week to Ed and someone else that it's probably personal as he's shit when his personal life has stuff going on.

Sure enough his ex witch...i mean wife shows up in the news for a kidnapping scheme.

He deserved to be sat and he's my favorite player.

Ed was defending him at the time.

[AS Collie]

[DCGweez]

If he (Radja) has caught the shit contagion then he'd be one of the last ones as most have been shit of late. He was no worse than Pjanic and Totti was invisible.

Either way it's good to have you back on here Collie. I hope all is well with you.

[AS Collie]

Can't complain, DC. Or I could, but you don't wanna listen. Didn't realise it'd been so long since I'd swung by. Whenever I don't click the new comment email immediately, it just seems like I forget entirely.

Nice to see we've moved on and aren't still giving Edzo a hard time about Vucinic and Zeman. Oh, wait ...

Myself and himself had a nice few beers before Roma Inter. He's still an ugly prick.

Good to be back.

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

GENOA (4-3-3): Perin; Roncaglia, De Maio, Burdisso, Antonelli; Rincon, Bertolacci, Sturaro; Perotti, Matri, Iago
A disp.: Lamanna, Prisco, Antonini, Izzo, Marchese, Rosi, Greco, Mussis, Lestienne, Edenilson, Fetfatzidis, Pinilla.

ROMA(4-3-3): De Sanctis; Maicon, Yanga Mbiwa, Astori, Holebas; Pjanic, Keita, Nainggolan; Gervinho, Florenzi, Ljajic
A disp.: Lobont, Curci, Torosidis, Manolas, Cole, Emanuelson, Paredes, Strootman, Destro, Borriello, Iturbe, Totti, Verde.

ARBITRO: Banti
COLLABORATORI: Costanzo – Preti
IV UOMO: Tasso
ADD1: Mazzoleni
ADD2: Russo

[maro]

http://www.forzaroma.info/2014/12/18/ci ... uro/398926

It will be interesting if this is true - it would rather raise the stakes for Astori, Romagnoli, and Castan, who must all be playing (or not-playin in the case of the lattermost) for their futures.

[DavidP]

[maro]

Were those your comments or someone else's, Davit? It's certainly true that pace can cover for a multitude of sins; on the other hand, being in the right place to tuck away a tap-in is itself no little skill. A year or so ago there was a comment on Destro from one of his old coaches, I think, or certainly someone who'd followed him closely as a youngster, remarking that he no longer made things happen on his own, no longer linked things up or created things for himself and others with bits of skill. Where has that Destro gone, he asked.

[DavidP]

[RomaShield27]

[DavidP]

i would say that all of those forwards have something that destro doesn't - pace and the ability to make something out of nothing in the case of van persie (at least of a couple of years ago), technique, hold up play and teamwork in the case of giroud, strength and heading ability in the cases of llorente and mandzukic (as well as grinta and work ethic in the case of the latter). i would be surprised if destro adds all that many dimensions to his game going forward but i hope he proves me wrong.

i didn't say a player like that wouldn't make it - clearly destro did fine last year in the relatively few minutes that he got - but against teams with serious pace at the back (david luiz, marquinhos, mangala, varane, etc) it would most likely be a different story and i'm not sure it's wise to waste a starting spot on such a one dimensional player if we want to achieve something in europe.