THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi I

[Messinterista]

[Jamoldo]

[maro]

[RomaShield27]

Well the CL is over for this season. Thank feck for that. Yep, it is cancelled, and doesn't exist anymore until next seasons qualifiers. All you have to do is avoid Sky Sports, Sky News, Sky Sports associated websites, in fact, just don't look at the sky again until the height of the summer. Then just don't pay attention to any english papers, tabloids, pundits (even though the term 'an english pundit' is about as truthful as a Kiwi who doesn't shag sheep), radio or TV shows. Yep, the Champions League is over, all done and dusted, thank feck. The end.

Oh yeah and fuck Soras, forza Rosella the queen gimp and bring on that €20m for new players. Woo hoo.

[Jamoldo]

Has Pizarro really been outstanding in this stretch? I don't know. I think he's been ok, but nothing specatcular. The issue with the Pirlo-Seedonk link up is that Totti is a bit different to say the least and we don't have a Kaka. Even though Pizarro may be able to move toe ball on more swiftly, would he? I don't know. While you're talking about him making those through balls to a striker who can breach opposing defenses on the ground, I think Aquilani is more than capable of filling that role. Where Pizarro, I think excells, and both of us have covered this (remember I'm also a Pizza nut hugger with you, Chris is the anti-Pizza monger) is changing the point of attack and really dictating pace. And while this is great, what price have we had to pay for it at times on the defensive side of the ball?

Agreed with you on the virtues of the Mirko goal and the lead up. I actually think Gilardino would fit well into our formation (note how I did not say system) as the prima punta though that would make us change our style of play quite a bit...

[Messinterista]

[maro]

[RomaShield27]

While I wouldn't completely rule out us not securing full-ownership of Vucinic – as with Roma these days who knows what the feck will happen – I really can't see a way in which we don't get the other half of his contract. Not only has he become a very important player for us this season, but he has also become a fan favorite, with even those were ridiculing him and saying he just doesn't have the quality earlier on the season becoming big fanboys. If Lecce are adamant about getting that €12m for him then it means we would have paid more than €20m for him, which, in all honesty, it too much, consider he was a Serie B player at the time who was unproven at a big club, but I'm sure Prade and co will do what they do best and negotiate a deal with them, which may even see us exchanging a player or two in their direction, especially if they get promotion. Really I don't see why we didn't agree a future set fee to secure full-ownership, just another blunder by our management, I suppose. But The LitM will continue in the giallorossi colours of Rome, there can be no other choice.

About Gilardino – I'm beginning to think he really could be a serious option for us. I doubt we can strike a deal for any other of the big name forwards we've been liked too, the likes of Amuauri, Huntelaar or Gomez – that is just dream (or Soras) talk, and so Gila could be doable. The problem is Milans interest in Mexes, which is obviously a non-runner for us, but I'm sure we could reach a deal with them in some way, most likey on a co-ownership.

[Jamoldo]

[maro]

[maro]

[RomaShield27]

[maro]

Shield, first, what you say about the co-ownership thing makes perfect sense - only not from the Lecce perspective. I just think they'd have been insane to agree to that sort of thing. It would have been nice for us, but it would have been asking Lecce to bet against themselves and they'd have been stupid to accept the deal. Indeed, we were lucky they agreed to the ridiculous loan/co-ownership deal in the first place. We are lucky to be where we are with him; asking for more seems to me a bit unfeasibly greedy, so I'm not going to hold that one against Rosella.

As for your thoughts on Soros, I agree entirely. I guess the simplest formulation I can give is the one I've given before: there's no doubt that football is, in part, business, but if it's only business, then I'm not interested any more. Indeed, I find the whole money side of football a real problem. Honestly, were a Roman to come in tomorrow with a massive bid for the club, with the interests of the club solely in his heart, committed to its spirit and its traditions and its practices, but with 200 mil to throw at the transfer market over the summer, I honestly think it would kill my love of the club. 200 mil on Messi, Kaka', Fabregas, and Zambrotta - presumably no-one would object too much to any of those players as players, but it wouldn't be my club any more. I know that I have a particularly extreme view on that, but football should be about Aquilani, De Rossi, Curci, Rosi, and also about Mexes or Perrotta or Doni or Vooch - guys who were, as it were, in no small part made at the club. Of course, one can do this while splashing the cash a bit too - I suppose if Pato is still at Milan in 10 years then the original fee will be pretty irrelevant, as I guess most Milanisti would feel towards Kaka' too.

I suppose the solution for me, then, is someone who can come in debt-free and allow the club to run off its own seasonal profits and it may actually be that Soros would be the guy for that. And, I suppose, it may actually be that that's how the club is being run at the moment, though one can't help but worry that some of the cash is being creamed off to cover interest payments elsewhere. Still, the addition of new money to the club, while it allows one to indulge in a little fantacalcio for a minute, would automatically be at the cost of why I support Roma so deeply.

[edge_xeno]

Well, it seems that Fisher is back in the frame according to ilRomanista

[pocari_fenrir]

[Italiamia]

Roma fans sign petition urging owners to sell
1 hour, 40 minutes ago


ROME, April 30 (Reuters) - A petition by AS Roma fans urging the owners to sell the Italian soccer club to George Soros has been signed by more than 15,000 people after reports that the billionaire financier had pulled out of talks.

Majority shareholder Italpetroli, controlled by the Sensi family, said last week it had met a representative of Inner Circle Sports, a global sports investment bank connected to the 77-year-old Soros.

Media reports have said Soros has ended talks because of a lack of progress. Lawyers working for Soros refused to comment.

Many fans believe the Sensis have taken Roma as far as they can and that new investment is the only way the club can take a step up and compete with the powerhouses of European soccer.

“Naturally fans like me have started to dream and hope for a great Roma like the great sides of Europe, competitive on every front. Our hope is that the Sensi family sells Roma to George Soros,â€

[Jamoldo]

[g.smiley]

[Totti_10]

[pocari_fenrir]