THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi I

[p_maldini_3]

[Bagg10]

[arthurfonzarelli]

[marco]

[Jamoldo]

[marco]

[pocari_fenrir]

[p_maldini_3]

[Italiamia]

[Bagg10]

[aba_bab]

[maro]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[RobHood]

[RomaShield27]

[maro]

[Jamoldo]

I don't know if I buy into this whole theory of Arsenal having great youth development. As far as I can see, they have ONE player in they're senior side which came from the supposed 'famed' youth academy – Justin Hoyte. And then what you have are players like Fabregas, Flamini, Clichy, Diaby and Bendtner who all joined the club when they were young, and have become all great players in they're own regard. But all these players were good young prospects who would of become great players anyway, like say if Fabregas had of stayed at Arsenal or Flamini at Marseille. Arsenal don't have great youth development but rather a great scouting network, scouts who spot these youngsters before other big clubs do.[/quote]

Ah I should have made an important distinction in this regard. Arse may not have a great academy, but their development of youth is great. Wenger got Cesc cheap as he was wasting away in Barca's B side. How about Henry who was cast off and on the wing at Juve? Others in the team may have had great potential, but then how did Wenger get them so cheap? They may have languished somewhere or become mediocre. We can never underestimate the power of great development and coaching at that stage of a young player's career. A great scouting network? Yes. As for Hoyte, he's not really up there on the chart is he? But he made it up there and is still climbing. How about David Bentley (though cast off) is now doing very well at Blackburn and should be an England regular. While Wenger doesn't have a ton of successes from kids who joined at say 11 years old (they're mostly English too), his record with 16-18 year olds is stunning. And now there is Walcott (who was expensive), Adebayor, Bendtner, Senderos, Clichy, Eboue. And how can we forget Cashley Cole?

[Frenchesco]

Congrats Shield!!! Your forum available from Google....that's great!!! You've done a good job setting up this place and making all of us able to talk and read about Roma. Thanks my friend.
Keep reading u all but do not post as much as I would like though...Working during the week, studying week end, waking up at nights to watch La Magica....though life I tell u.

So here we are, the big game in a few hours. We do have a chance and even though it s gonna be a very difficult game, the team must believe in it until the last minute.
I'm not sure how Real is gonna play but I think they will play very much in attack from the first minute. The main fear is that the guys could be not ready and feeling too much pressure. Bernabeu and the support that Real have is gonna be of a great importance. Hopefully we are ready for it and will be able to keep our concentration.
If we manage to come out with a great game, if we do not concede any goals too soon and if we can actually keep the ball without giving it back too often, I believe we can surprise. For sure we are the outsiders tonight but we need to believe in this team.
All the players need to be 100%, not only physically but tonight we need to show intelligence and strategy. We'll be able to see how much the team has matured since last year. It's gonna be in the mind and we need to be strong.

[maro]

Yes, Frenchesco, I think the opening fifteen minutes will be key. The boys have to soak up pressure and believe in themselves - they have to have the confidence that they can impose their own stamp on the game and need to be brave enough to get on the ball and to knock it around, playing our style of footy. It's so important that DDR and Pizza (if it is, indeed, Pizza) and Totti get one or two nice touches early. Real will come storming out of the blocks, but if we can keep the ball we have enough quality to get at them.

'moldy, what's that rubbish about Fabregas? You've been drinking too many cans of that old Newcastle Ale, I fear. He was 'stolen' by Arse from Barca, just as Pique was by ManUre, because the employment laws are different in England and Spain - and exactly the same thing happened with Rossi and when we lost De Martino. In Spain you have to be, what, 18 or something before you can sign your first professional contract. In England it's 16 - or maybe it's 17 and 19 or whatever. And so English teams are always in a position to sign up these players. Fabregas wasn't 'rotting'; he was a brilliant young prospect whom Arsewipe poached.

[Italiamia]

Alright men, I am off to try and do some work before the game. I must admit that I am very nervous and worried about this match. Therefore, it is best for my psychological well being to divert my attention elsewhere. We need to go through for reasons in addition to the obvious. Financially, Roma could use a bigger share of the CL pot and the prospect of yearly participation in the CL attracts quality players.

Let me be more frank. I have stomach cramps already and it's just under 4 hours before kickoff. We have to face the facts here. Real are going to try and come at us in waves to get a goal and I have confidence that we are not just going to sit back and let that happen. Very simply, we have to score first because we do not want to be chasing the game. Spalletti says we are playing to win and we are going after them today. I damn well hope so.