THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi I

[Italiamia]

[g.smiley]

[maro]

[RomaShield27]

[Italiamia]

[arthurfonzarelli]

[Italiamia]

[arthurfonzarelli]

[Italiamia]

[maro]

[Italiamia]

Mancini being interviewed now. He is now the toast of Rome. On his contract extension: "Stiamo parlando, stiamo parlando..."

[stefano]

[oily]

[RomaShield27]

[stefano]

[vtec]

[The MAN]

[aba_bab]

[RomaShield27]

Yes, The Man. Yes they did.

Despite our great win and the great performance tonight, I just want to go on a little rant about something. It about Maro being so boring. Ok ok, no its not. I can't quite put my finger on it but I think our defence in lacking something. We seem to be missing an ingredient that other top teams (not Real) have. There were times tonight against Madrid were we just looked very very shaky and looked like we could concede at any moment. We have seen in at various other times throughout the season, particularly when we're playing badly and in a slump, like we were coming into tonights game. Just because the team is playing poorly doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to rely on your defence. We just allow too much space to a lot of the oppositions attacks, and don't seem to be all that cohesive as a defensive unit. Yes, Real may have great technical quality when going forward, but if we want to be considered a top team you need to be able to defend properly. We weren't all that bad tonight as every player played they're heart out, but overall our defence simply doesn't instill you with confidence. I feel as if things could go drastically wrong if we had a few bad turns or a few little mistakes. We seen this last season in the CL and it could happen again.

I don't why I think it is like this, but I think it is something we need to address to step up a level. All great teams are built from the back (unless your Brazil and its 1970). I don't think it is a technical issue. We have Mexes and Juan at centre-half, two top-quality defenders, we have solid full-backs who can defend, we have a truly world-class and at times unbeatable defensive covering midfielder, and we have a solid keeper. So whats the problem? Are we, perhaps, lacking in leadership at the back? Hard to say that with the likes of Mexes, DDR and Panucci out there. Is Doni perhaps not as good at organising his defence, like all good keepers should do? Or is it something mental, something which perhaps will come with more experience at the top-level, and will make us more confident and more assured in defence? Or am I just being too critical? I think there is an issue there in this team with defending, or the defending mentality, and its something which could obviously cost us dearly in big games. But it is something which exists in this team and needs to be looked at.

Good win though.

[g.smiley]

Shield, I believe it may have something to do with just taking our feet off the pedals. If you think about it, we begin conceding when we collectively stop pressing. When we lose possesion up front, we stop for a moment. It's almost as if we're like, "fuck, we just lost the ball, god damn fuckin A." Then, we suddenly realize the break is on, and it is often too late. Plus, Pizzaro does nothing for us in defence neither does Giuly or Mancini (although now he seems to be everywhere).

Our system requires EVERYONE to press and then defend every time we lose the ball. That's why I get so cross when we slouch around for 70 mins. Not only do we lose (even if we're already 3 up), we lose by a large margin.

Look, the goal Raul scored today was a little cheap, sure. However, he is a guy that knows how to get the job done. He knows the little tricks that catch keepers and defenders alike out. Particularly in Europe where his opponents may not be as familiar with his tricks than defenders are back in Spain.