THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[Carlo Romano]

[Jamoldo]

[Jamoldo]

[Carlo Romano]

[maro]

Carlo, seriously, it's nonsense to hold Rosella and Prade responsible for Ranieri's not playing Guberti. That makes no sense at all. If Ranieri sees something in Menez and not in Guberti - and is wrong - then that's on him. Or do you want Prade and Rosella to pick the team too now? Having seen Guberti for 55 minutes the previous week when he had a shocker, I'm also not inclined to base too much on a single goal, however good it was that it came against the 'merda.

I didn't for a moment "suggest we shouldn't concern ourselves with the next mercato": I said I'm going to try and concentrate on this season's football while there's some of it still to be enjoyed. Talk about the market all you like - just don't be surprised if I, individually, don't engage with your chat with much enthusiasm.

And Gallas has been - and still is, though for how much longer? - a very, very fine player. It's just that he's also an utter cock. Perhaps, anyway, all he's really interested in is retiring from international football and this is the simplest way of doing that.

[RomaShield27]

I'm happy enough with the way Menez is progressing at this stage. He was getting a good run in the team at the start of the season but inconsistency and his attitude have seen him drop down the pecking order, and while there were rumblings of him wanting to leave and being unhappy at Roma it never really came to a head and he has buckled down and kept his mouth shut while being in the bench. He hasn't being playing great lately when given the chance, but he is doing ok and I still have high hopes for him in the future that he can step up and be a very important player for us. I don't think he's ever going to be as defensively sound as Ranieri would like him to be, but I think he can develop his game and force his way back into to contention in the future.

Guberti, on the other hand, couldn't really offer us a lot this season and so I think him going on loan was a good move. Its doubtful he would of have the impact that Menez – or even Cerci, for that matter – would of had as a sub against Milan had he still been with us.

With regards to our next mercato, people can choose to talk about it now or they can choose not too. It doesn't really matter, does it? To me its very clear cut: selling either Mexes or Juan for big bucks and replacing one of them with Gallas would not only be a major step backward for this team but would also stand as a sign that this club still cannot currently compete for the scudetto on any level.

Oh and Totti is still for the World Cup.

[Italiamia]

[SPqR]

[Carlo Romano]

Tom, I guess this is more a rhetorical post than one I'd expect to see a response to. But nonetheless it's one I must make as I see certain things need clarified through my not being as explicit as I might have been.

I have a lot of frustration as our team appears to be entering another negative phase. I do however feel we ought to be capable of beating everyone but the "Big Three," and we should show it, starting with Livorno. We know they will be smarting after their last defeat and won't make things easy for us, but nonetheless it ought to be within our power.

I hope our mister agrees which leads me to say...

I read some Romanisti today who appear to be of the opinion that Ranieri went for a "safe rather than sorry" gameplan against Milan through having one eye on his long time future with us. Indeed, they continued along the lines of feeling concerned that he may already think his objective for this season is achieved, inasmuch as he has got us to the top four and most likely yet another Coppa Italia final. I'd hate to think those are his secret thoughts though I can however see why these guys might draw that conclusion...possibly so in my own mind as it follows the pretty fair case you and Andrew presented in reminding us of Ranieri's more questionable moments with la Juve...

On Rosella and Pradè who couldn't pick their noses, far less a football team, God help us if they tried!

I can't honestly say I ever intended making more than the odd reference to the coming summer mercato...as we well know it'll be a cut and dried case of selling to bring in cash and getting more bargain basement replacements! It's too depressing.

Which brings me back to our beloved principessa who may yet reduce us to being heaven knows how far below our expected standard before she is finally ousted. While I'm trying not to fall into the trap of looking for just any possible scapegoat on whom I can apportion blame, I cannot apologise in any way for wanting to see the end of her régime as I hold both she and her upper office colleagues accountable, at very least for our more serious woes.

[Italiamia]

[maro]

[maro]

A nice little juxtaposition:
http://www.calciomercato.com/index.php?c=25&a=170811
http://www.romanews.eu/news.asp?newsID=1008&pag=59

[Italiamia]

TOTTI: "AVEVO DETTO SI' AL REAL MADRID" - Che il fuoriclasse della Roma fosse stato a lungo inseguito dalle Merengues era notizia di dominio pubblico, ma che Totti avesse addirittura accettato il trasferimento a Madrid, salvo tornare velocemente sulle proprie idee, rappresenta una novità. "Avevo detto sì al Real Madrid - ha riferito il fuoriclasse della Roma a 'Canal +' - ma era un periodo in cui con la società non andava particolarmente bene. Poi quei problemi si sono risolti e sono rimasto alla Roma". A confermare le parole di Totti, ci sono anche le dichiarazioni di Raul: "Ero a conoscenza della trattativa, sembrava davvero potesse arrivare, poi però le cose non sono andate a buon fine. Peccato, sarei stato onorato di giocare con lui; è stato uno dei migliori giocatori della storia".
______________________

One thing that has always bothered me about Totti was his propensity to put his proverbial foot in his mouth. I am sure you all have read over the course of the last several days his comments regarding his near transfer to Real Madrid. Personally, I do not have a clue as to why he would come out and say these things now. What purpose does it serve. Is he that self centered that he needs to attract headlines given the fact that he cannot play because of injury. After watching this guy for 16 years I still do not understand him. Why can't he just shut his damn mouth.

[Italiamia]

Roma are desperate to stop Manchester United raiding their Primavera side for midfield starlet Stefano Pettinari.

The Giallorossi have already lost one teenage wonder boy to the Red Devils when they 'lifted' Davide Petrucci in July 2008 and do not want the same thing to happen to one of their most promising schoolboys again._

Roma are reportedly ready to offer Pettinari a new contract to keep him at the club for another season while he continues his progress in their youth teams.

United already have four Italian youngsters on their books with former Lazio striker Federico Macheda, Michele Fornasier (Fiorentina) and Alberto Massacci (Empoli) all signed for free after their sixteenth birthdays.

[red]

It's deja vu all over again.

I wonder how long before UEFA/FIFA act to make it a level playing field by bringing standard regulations instead of relying on inconsistent domestic laws.

[Jamoldo]

...or when we decide to value our youth and give some of them a chance to paly...

[Carlo Romano]

Again very little happening...well, I too can't get particularly excited over an away match with Livorno but let's not kid ourselves, the result itself is of paramount importance!

I wanted to revert to my gladiatore romano as a sign of solidarity to our beloved lupi but if we continue to drop points I may just as well get my grim reaper image out or perhaps not bother with a sig or avatar at all.

[RomaShield27]

[maro]

[RomaShield27]