THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi I

[maro]

Whose prediction is that, Edzo? Given Vooch has missed a few games recently, I'd be a little surprised to see him start, especially with Monty and Okaka in the mix, though perhaps Spags wants him to get a bit of sharpness back?

[stefano]

I hope Vucinic does not start. Montella and/or Okaka need to be given a go. De Rossi also deserves a rest, but we don't really have the midfielders available to fill his spot, unfortunately.

[RomaShield27]

Sorry yes, that line-up was from Il Romanista, not my own. I would agree with resting Vucinic and give one from Monty or Okaka a chance (or perhaps even both and also rest Menez/Beastia). I mean if Spalletti considers them to be part of this squad (however back the back-up list they may be), and if Conti has said that no new arrivals will be arriving in January, then we must give them some proper game time in a game like this to proper assess they're worth. I thought Vinny looked pretty sharp when he came on last Sunday and made some good movements and some probing (easy Maro) runs, while Okaka hasn't had a chance in ages. He will more than likely be loaned out come January anyway, so in that case I would start Vinny and see what tricks he has left in those old legs.

[maro]

I suppose had we a few more of our midfielders available we might see DDR rested and Perrotta or Brighi in that holding role. It may not be their 'natural' position, but if Aquilani and Pizza and Taddei and Perrotta were all fit and available Spags would presumably find a way to give DDR a break. Edzo, I'm not sure that Okaka will be loaned out come January, especially if no-one else does come in. At the moment Spags is improvising with the move from 4-3-1-2 to 4-3-2-1, depending on whether it's Menez or Vooch alongside Totti and Baptista, but that still means we really only have three players covering those two positions. Baptista, of course, could play higher up the pitch too, but the moment we have an injury to one of our forwards, I think you'd find Monty and or Okaka having to see more minutes. If Crespo, say, were to come, then Okaka would be loaned out, but without Crespo or an equivalent, I'd say Stefano stays and picks up minutes here and there.

[RomaShield27]

Its a pity we couldn't clone Vucinic though. Imagine what we could do with 11 LitM's on the pitch instead of the likes of that bum Cicinho.

Yeah, I wouldn't fully believe Conti when he said no one will be arriving in the next mercato, as we all know anything can happen during that time. I wouldn't mind seeing a few players come in to give us extra depth, but I doubt it will happen. A better back-up 'keeper and extra centre-half in place of Arthur and Loria, an additional defensive-midfielder, and perhaps an extra forward, allowing Okaka to go out on loan.

[maro]

[Italiamia]

[maro]

[RomaShield27]

[maro]

[RomaShield27]

[Pauly W. Nuts]

[Pauly W. Nuts]

[Pauly W. Nuts]

[stefano]

[maro]

[Pauly W. Nuts]

[arthurfonzarelli]

[arthurfonzarelli]

[marco]