THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi I

[stefano]

[stefano]

[p_maldini_3]

[stefano]

I don't buy the argument that he is being victimized. No one is holding a gun to his head. I'm not sure how his current contract is written (specifically in terms of the say he has in potential transfers), but he signed it. He is a professional athlete who is paid millions to play a game. I feel for you and the other Milan fans. It is difficult to come to terms with losing a beloved player regardless of what is received in compensation.

[p_maldini_3]

the reason why we are saying 'forced' out is because now he no longer has the full trust of the management. they threw him to the sharks for slaughter, they stabbed him in the back. with no class whatsoever.

and be careful guys, mancity seems to be watching de rossi as well. they've made a 40m bid for terry, and reports are saying upto 60m for de rossi. and this is in pounds we are talking about.

just pray that this cancer doesn't come to rome as it did to milan.

[red]

[SPqR]

[Pauly W. Nuts]

[Pauly W. Nuts]

[Carlo Romano]

I don't particularly want to re-open the can of worms I once did over a year ago on the now defunct Chamber of Horrors forum concerning a discussion on my fears that modern football is fast heading towards becoming the property and plaything of an exclusive wealthy elite, leaving the rest of us to simply do the best we can...unless some measure of control can be brought in. The Kaka to Man City business more than illustrates my point irrespective of whether this particular deal goes through or not...

In the UK we well know there are certain clubs owned and run by person or persons, let's diplomatically refer to them as "entrepreneurs." The government well knows the meaning of the words money and laundering but as long as any alleged irregularities only take place outwith British shores then those responsible have carte blanche to do business as they choose. As the saying goes, money talks and more so it would seem in the UK, at least for now...not that it's not happening elsewhere too of course!

In simple terms this means there is slowly becoming less chance of fair competition between clubs for European football's greatest prize, the Champions League...certainly there has always been a situation where rich clubs stood a better chance of winning but it has always been possible for a club with limited finance like our Roma for example to progress.

What I mean is...if things are allowed to continue as is then before too long the same few clubs are year after year going to take the top 4 places in domestic competition in order to enter the CL and in doing so will devalue the meaning of the particular league in which they play as the lesser clubs will have to make do with the Uefa Cup as their achievable target! We will then too have a comparable imbalance in the CL as the mega rich teams will easily dismiss the others and we will have to resign ourselves to seeing Man Utd, Real Madrid, and 3 or 4 others make the cup their sole property.

In legal terms this could be next to impossible to stop. Uefa, if they can impliment the much discussed rule of a 5 "home grown" player minimum per team on the field of play at any given time means no contravention of existing EEC regulations and it is at least a possible start to solving the problem...though much more will need to be done before we also end up with any player who is anybody only wanting to play for those few same prestigious clubs.

However, my mind today is a lot closer to home and in very much wanting our wolves to tear enough strips off an already injured bull to get us 3 more points! Hell, we're going to miss Vuci and Doni though...

[Pauly W. Nuts]

[maro]

Carlo, I think everyone here knows my deep ambivalence about modern football and the way money compromises the best stuff that is the spirit of sport at its best. Pauly, I think everyone here would also tell you that you're hopelessly naive about the commitment of (almost) all of our players. Many of our players are, I am sure, deeply attached to the maglia, but that maglia also brings with it big money and a chance (or, so, at least, we can still just about tell ourselves) to compete for trophies and certainly to play on some big Champions League stages. There is, I suspect, not a single player at the club who wouldn't look elsewhere were we a 'middle-table' club which could never aspire to more than a cup run and a place int eh UEFA cup every three years or so. Mexes might be on better money elsewhere but it's not as though he stayed for a pittance.

As for today, it looks as though Cicinho is going to start. I was going to say that playing Cassetti would really surprise me. Personally, I think Taddei and Cicinho complement each other really well - Taddei allowing some cover for Cicinho's defensive frailties, Cicinho adding a bit of pace and penetration down the right which Taddei doesn't quite bring. They also seem to have a natural instinct for the way the other plays. It would be interesting to compile a list of the best and worst games they've both played over the past two years and see how many of the good ones coincided with their both being on the pitch together.

As for Aquilani, Populusque, I gather Taddei had a very solid game on Wednesday and I think Spags is - at least to start with - going to look to play Aquilani further up the pitch, so that it's actually a question of Menez or Aquilani, with Taddei a certain starter alongside DDR and Brighi. I think Spags would rather have Taddei do the dirty work and let the others do more of the attacking higher up the pitch. And then presumably Menez's pace gives us a slightly different threat in behind - and without Simone and Vooch we're short on guys who will give us that elusive 'profondita'.

[Carlo Romano]

Pauly, it's as you say, way beyond mere financial gain now!

Professore, I too, as you do just want to see everyone compete on a reasonably fair basis...


But let's get a little more light hearted...we need Romulus here to blow Toro away this afternoon!

[Pauly W. Nuts]

Carlo, thats a cool pic there!

Does anyone have a feed to the game. I can't find one and the game is about to start

[maro]

I'm using bet365, Pauly. You need an account there, but you don't need a positive balance, so it's pretty easy to set up. Otherwise, have a look here too:
http://www.rojadirecta.com/

[Pauly W. Nuts]

GRAZIE PROFESSORE!

[maro]

What do you think, gentlemen? Anyone else missing the King of Profondita? It's most conspicuous in terms of the numbers we're getting into the box to attack crosses. Simone may miss plenty of chances, but his mere presence creates chances for others. Cicinho's having a stormer and Brighi's playing well, but the rest of the attack is struggling against a predictably compact and overloaded defence. I wouldn't mind Aquilani for Pizza, though I doubt we'll see that change. Probably Spags will just get into Menez and tell him to attack the space in behind the fullbacks and then we'll see how that goes for 15 minutes. Oh, and Juan is playing beautifully too, I think.

[vtec]

[maro]

[maro]