THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi I

[Italiamia]

Talk about futility. As Tomasso said, every player on that pitch for Roma was pathetic. An absolute embarrassment. I hope the fans come out to tomorrow's practice and harass the players over this one. This team was already on the plane heading back to Rome from the opening whistle. They all deserve blame. From the players all the way down to the trainer.

[aba_bab]

[romawi]

[p_maldini_3]

[pocari_fenrir]

[RomaShield27]

ATALANTA END ROMA RUN
www.sportinglife.com/football

Roma's unbeaten start to 2009 was brought to a brutal conclusion as they slipped to a 3-0 defeat away to Atalanta. Second-half goals in a devastating seven-minute spell from Daniele Capelli and Cristiano Doni (two) proved the difference as the capital club missed the chance to climb up to fourth in the Serie A standings after the teams directly above them - Fiorentina and Genoa - played out a 3-3 draw. The defeat was compounded by a late red card for midfielder Simone Perrotta.

It was Atalanta's third win in a row after successes against Catania and Cagliari and means Luigi del Neri's side can perhaps think about UEFA Cup qualification rather than limiting their ambitions to mere survival. The Bergamo side were the first to go close in the second minute when Brazilian midfielder Ferreira Pinto's angled shot from just outside the area flew just wide. Roma's first opening came six minutes later when Francesco Totti led a counter-attack but his effort from outside the box fizzed wide of Andrea Consigli's goal. The Giallorossi should have been full of confidence following their 3-0 triumph over Genoa last time out but they were on the back foot again after 10 minutes when Perrotta cleared Thomas Manfredini's goalbound header off the line.

Simone Padoin was the next to go close for the hosts when he drilled a shot from the edge of the box just wide after some good approach play. Atalanta threatened again with four minutes of the half to go when Sergio Floccari headed wide from Tiberio Guarente's free-kick, although Roma had the last word before the break when Capelli made a vital clearance to thwart a Totti volley from Max Tonetto's cross. The goal Atalanta had threatened finally came seven minutes into the second half when Capelli reacted smartly following a goalmouth scramble to fire a shot past Doni in the Roma goal.

Roma had barely recovered when the Bergamaschi doubled their lead four minutes later as Cristiano Doni beat his namesake in the visitors' goal with a far-post tap-in from Padoin's left-wing cross. Doni added his second and Atalanta's third just before the hour mark with a classic sucker-punch goal. Gianpaolo Bellini's long ball down the left caught Roma short-handed at the back and Doni beat Juan before firing home.

Marco Motta, on loan to Roma from Udinese, tried his luck with a shot from distance after 68 minutes but Consigli tipped his effort over the top. Atalanta's confidence was underlined by Ferreira Pinto's willingness to shoot from 35 yards, but Doni got right behind his fierce drive. Mirko Vucinic fired Roma's last chance wide after cutting in from the left and the final insult for Luciano Spalletti's men came in the last minute of normal time when, Perrotta, who had been booked four minutes earlier, was shown a straight red card for a foul on Atalanta midfielder Francesco Parravicini.

Spalletti's post-match reaction:
http://www.romanews.eu/campionato/parti ... interviste

Le pagelle:
http://www.datasport.it/leggi.aspx?id=5542014

[maro]

Gents, by way of more pleasant distraction, we're going to Sicily for a couple of weeks in April and are just planning out our trip. We'll probably spend the whole time in the south east - flying into and out of Catania, spending a chunk of time in Taormina, then on to Siracusa and Noto and across to Modica and Ragusa and, out the outside, across to Agrigento and Piazza Armerina. We won't be doing loads, having a lazyish time and in the expectation that we'll be back before too long, but are there any travel suggestions from you fine gentlemen? Any places not to be missed, restaurants to try, tricks to be taken advantage of?

[RomaShield27]

A couple of weeks, Professore...? In April...? Very nice indeed. What recession eh... you lucky sod. I would love to one day just pack up and go to Italy on a one-way ticket and spend it traveling all over Italy, so much to see. One day.

[g.smiley]

[vtec]

don't worry guys. if it makes you feel any better, i bet on an atalanta win. the six italians starting didn't really help your cause. i also bet on an inter win tonight.

[maro]

[maro]

[vtec]

[maro]

[Italiamia]

[RomaShield27]

[Italiamia]

[RomaShield27]

[Pauly W. Nuts]

[Pauly W. Nuts]