THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[Italiamia]

[maro]

[aba_bab]

[Jamoldo]

[Carlo Romano]

Today we have those elefanti Siciliani to face, fortunately in own back yard. I'm not concerned with all the usual pre match hype, particularly in view of Inter dropping two more points. It's a winnable contest provided the boys don't let their thoughts of what the future may hold take their concentration. I'm sure Ranieri will have told them they must look no further than this, our latest match.

For now, our being seen as the anti-Inter by certain parties doesn't in the least impress me, and indeed I'm glad Juan, earlier in the week publicly asked both the tifosi and il pubblico in generale to wait a month before keeping that story going. Unfortunately we seem to be staring at the variables again, having to play that prosciutto Baptista who can't hold the ball and whose saving grace is that once in every long while he can score a dramatic volleyed goal...and all because Toni is behind schedule with his return, though as I understand it, he is fit enough to party with chicks in Monaco! I want to give this dude the benefit of the doubt as to just what he will do for us but it's not being made easy...

We also have Doni in goal. It's all very well il mister defending him after Thursday, saying everyone was at fault, as indeed in different ways they were. Doesn't change the fact that Doni must take responsability for his errors!

As for Totti...il nostro Capitan'! Depending on which of the two treatments we read about that he goes for, he could be looking at a month out plus another 3-4 weeks to get something of his fitness back, so, we can certainly kiss goodbye for this season his terrific pre Christmas form, that's for sure. I'm bothered by Ranieri's statement last week to the effect of Totti not being one of these players who will honestly say to his coach, "I'm not ready to play" because his desire to play is so strong! I wonder if il mister will have the guts to do with Totti as Ferrara when he was Juventus coach, rightly did with The Waterboy, saying he would not be selected until he is properly ready!

It goes without saying, if this wasn't Totti we are talking about, we'd most of us be thinking we should unload him because we can no longer depend on him. But...we know what he is to us and one does not simply replace him! So in the meantime, let's hope Ranieri can get Baptista fired up even if it's only with the thought of his playing for Brasil this summer. That will still suit us, serve a short term purpose. Now, more than ever, we need that ancient Roman fighting spirit il mister showed in Trigoria on late Tuesday! Too bad some of his gladiatori weren't listening...

I'll add this. Coming home to Roma has shown to be as beneficial to Ranieri as it has to us and our club. I see more of a fire within him now, something that was missing for a long time! Which leads me to our little rich girl presidente...

To quote a good friend of mine, it's not like she had the idea herself, she got lucky in getting an experienced coach like Ranieri who just happened to be immediately available. What he's done for us up to now has been his doing, not any foresight by her in hiring him, and certainly not in any way helping him to achieve what he has with us, in leading us back to respectability. I haven't forgotten how inept a president she is.

But, to today. Despite being deprived of Toni and Totti, victory over the Siciliani is there for the taking if the job is done properly and in no way taken for granted...and provided Doni remembers he should take his inspiration from Julio Sergio and not from Artur!


Daje Roma!

[maro]

Pizarro and Totti out and Menez in - that's what I've been talking about, baby. Forza La Magica.

[maro]

Just for nedzo, because I know he'll get grumpy with me otherwise: a pretty professional first half. Catania haven't really fired a shot in anger - only looking half-threatening from a couple of set-pieces. I think Ranieri's got this formation spot-on - 4-1-4-1, I would think he'd call it, with DDR sitting in front of the back four and Menez playing a bit more of a play-making role than he has at times. Vooch has been excellent; Cerci's had some good moments; DDR and Juan have done some great tackles; and Taddei's done three or four quite good things and five or six horrible ones. Forza La Magica.

[maro]

A very professional three points from the boys - to keep the pressure just about on Inter and to keep 'que and the Avvocato happy. Brighi got through an absolute mountain of work today and Juan was superb. Cerci also had one of his best games for us and Vooch was a constant threat leading the line - having Cerci alongside him at times made him look a lot more comfortable than he has at times in the true 4-2-3-1, having to do everything with his back to goal. It was a bit more like a 4-2-3-1 in the second half, with Brighi pretty close to DDR. A solid three points, all in all.

[maro]

Baptista also did fine for his 10 minutes and Faty was okay as another body in midfield - good to see Ranieri getting minutes from much of the squad what with the injuries and piling up of games at the moment.

[Frenchesco]

Next 2 weeks are gonna be very important. Pana. this coming week and trip to Napoli next week end and then we play milan at home.
4 points out of those 2 games will be quite good i believe.

[RomaShield27]

[maro]

[maro]

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

[maro]

[maro]

[RomaShield27]

[Jamoldo]

[Carlo Romano]

Jamil...

Like Juan said, give it another month before we start thinking seriously along those lines. Don't forget there's the small matter of Milan winning their game in hand, putting them one point above us if they do. Having said that, even my cynical nature tells me if things go our way for a change, the remaining fixtures are more advantageous to us than they have been in other seasons at this point.

Still to play:

Napoli (A)
Milan (H)
Livorno (A)
Udinese (H)
Bologna (A)
Inter (H)
Bari (A)
Atalanta (H)
Lazio (A)
Sampdoria (H)
Parma (A)
Cagliari (H)
Chievo (A)

We have home advantage for the two biggies so those two games alone could swing it for us, no doubt about it! Provided we don't shoot ourselves in the foot by foolishly dropping unnecessary points in games we ought to win, matters are actually in our own hands for once.

The variables? Injuries and suspensions, our old hoodoo...and our lack of quality squad depth. Distractions from the Europa League and la Coppa Italia! As a realist I'd point to one of those as being more likely than lo scudetto in terms of us winning something.

Not that I'm telling you anything you don't already know! But wouldn't it be so damn sweet to take that precious shield with a nice new no.4 on it back to the Olimpico?

...and please, don't anyone mention that as there are thirteen games left, we are bound to screw up somewhere. Remember seventeen and not thirteen is considered unlucky in Italia!