THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi I

[RomaShield27]

[Pauly W. Nuts]

[Pauly W. Nuts]

[stefano]

[maro]

[marco]

[SPqR]

[maro]

[stefano]

[SPqR]

[stefano]

[RomaShield27]

[stefano]

[SPqR]

[stefano]

[Jamoldo]

[stefano]

[Jamoldo]

[Carlo Romano]

Don Tommaso, you know several of us agree we are better off with il mister Spalletti staying, if only to help keep things solid for next season...I must also clarify that I'm still of the opinion it's part of his job to inspire confidence and I'm by no means the only one to have noticed he does all Romanisti from the players to the fans to the training and management staff no favours at all being continually caught with an expression bereft of ideas in front of tv cameras when things go wrong!

Sadly he can also mis-time his show of strength. I wish he had stood up to the management 17 months ago over his realistic and in no way extravagant request for 3 players to transform what was then, as he accurately put it, a good team into a great team. Being seen to show it now by turning on Rosella is hopefully no more than what he feels obligated to do as acting buffer between the players and the upper office, rather than merely being an impotent piece of posturing in a fit of pique. I dislike this figure of speech as an example yet it's apt...sitting slightly back like a coiled snake ready to strike is the smarter move if he sees within the next weeks into the summer break that the club's affairs are no longer to his liking! Whether we like it or not, ultimately, he will do what is best for Luciano Spalletti if he is as astute as we think him to be...

On Vargas I stand by my opinion...our loss! As for Totti, didn't we HAVE to do without him for much of winter 07-08 and we still took second place...which doesn't imply a fully fit pupone would have made no difference. What won't go away is his age and that we need to prepare for the future so for how long can we afford to build a team round him rather than count ourselves lucky he can however be part of what we have?

'Tec, though I'm out of touch with the current crop, I had a lot more reading time back in the 1990's so I can verify there were a number of Italian footballers who had the common sense to finish their studies in their off-time and have a profession or trade as a back up. Accountants, architects, business management, catering...the first one I read about was Luca Vialli, a draughtsman. But yes, sadly there are many others who struggle beyond their chosen sport.

Pauly, though some players are indeed no better than spoiled nouveau riche and need to be kept in line like petulant brats, for the most part thankfully that doesn't need to go beyond words of encouragement mixed with a little anger when it's seen to be for the good of all...

And hey! As in the old "Goodfellas" pizza tv ads, I know you're here and you...ain't no f*ckin' mirage!"

I can't say I'd ever thought Steve was picking on you as such. He's one of these guys who comments when he sees something that takes his attention is all he's doing. An old girlfriend of mine taught me a bit about that...she worked in the "Topicality" section of the BBC tv newsroom! Keeps the interest and forum activity going!

'Moldo, thanks for the +1 rep, man... the Reverend Jack(Daniels) helps me do my better work!

Tuna-Man, you forgot to add a fourth player...I hope Amelia is serious and somehow money can be found to bring him to us. Let Doni and Artur go...Paolo Sergio can't be any worse than Artur as back up! On the subject of finance though we mustn't forget we need to find €3.5million for co-ownership or €7million in three instalments for Motta as a priority act this summer!

Gio...you know how far back I go as a lupo and though I don't have the stats to hand, like you I can't remember heavy defeats or indeed a 52 goals scored - 52 goals conceded situation being in any way commonplace. Yes, it's one of our mister's failings that he seems to look to youth when left with not much other option. Sad! I hope to goodness D'Alessandro isn't lost to us!

To ALL...Menez? Can we really afford under our present management's resources to remain out of pocket to the tune of his market value while we wait for him to develop or not as the case may be? When we bought him, he was supposedly nearly starting quality ready. He isn't. If a move home to France reimburses us then I say we go for it and try again on the market in a few weeks. I can't suggest a viable replacement but then it's not my job as fan to do so. I can however go by what I see on the field of play and I'm not seeing what I want...all our players to meet the required standard!

[maro]

From romanews this morning:
Gazzetta dello Sport: Spalletti contro Sensi, tecnico e società ai ferri corti

I cinque punti di Luciano Spalletti
1 - La scarsa presenza della presidente Sensi a Trigoria
2 - Un mercato condotto solo attraverso manager e procuratori ben precisi
3 - Il ritardo nella questione dei rinnovi di contratto ai giocatori che gli sono più vicini
4 - La carenza di strutture a Trigoria che consentano di migliorare gli allenamenti e i recuperi dagli infortuni
5 - La questione Totti, ovvero la totale autonomia (benedetta dalla società) di cui gode il capitano della Roma

I cinque punti di Rosella Sensi
1 - Ferie troppo lunghe, preparazione pesante e recuperi affrettati hanno minato il rendimento
2 - Scelte di mercato sbagliate
3 - Mancata valorizzazione dei giovani del vivaio, soprattutto in presenza di titolari in condizioni fisiche precarie
4 - Tensioni eccessive da parte dell'allenatore, che si sono trasmesse anche alla squadra, con relative conseguenze nel comportamento in campo
5 - Ambiguità sulla sua voglia di restare alla Roma

I imagine there's much in there that many of us would agree with.