THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[Carlo Romano]

Tom, if Julio Sergio isn't given some form of personal bonus in his pay packet, there's no justice! Motta needs to get his confidence up with more play which may not happen with us as we don't seem to want to buy out Udinese's share of him.

If this match hadn't had the particular significance on our season that it did, I'm sure we could have been a lot more willing to not view it out of perspective.

But I must ask you, it becomes more and more obvious that Toni is not going to be worth the asking price Bayern appear to be demanding so...how big of a chance do you think we'd be taking on Adriano as his replacement? He misses his Italian lifestyle it's clear. If he can separate his social needs from his football, we could have something worth having in him. If not, we have yet another liability.

[maro]

Carlo, honestly, I have absolutely no idea - for me, that's the kind of question it's sort of silly for a fan even to try and answer. I have absolutely no idea what Adriano is really like and how he's really been behaving and training since his move back to Brazil; no doubt it'd be a risk but how much of a risk - it would be absurd for me to claim to have any sense of that. Personally, I'd rather we kept Luca; I think he's done fine. The fact that Ranieri has left Totti on the bench on occasion says much - it says that he feels he has some kind of alternative to Totti within the squad. I think Luca's done an important job for us at times; I like the fact that he's Italian and understands Serie A. I also think realistically you're not going to play Totti+Vooch+Adriano or any striker, however good, because of what it does to the balance of the side. I would like to see us concentrate on the 4-3-1-2 for next season, since I think that suits the players we have available. We need an alternative at left back; we need to sign Burdisso and Luca, or substitutes to fill their roles; and I'm desperately keen for us to hang on to Mexes. I'm more worried about whom we're going to lose than excited about whom we might add.

[Carlo Romano]

Tom, by my way of thinking we need more than Luca has to compete with the cream of Europe as we will be doing once again in the new season, once we hopefully progress beyond the group stage in the CL. However, ours seems an academic difference of opinion as it doesn't look likely Bayern's demand over Toni's price will be met, or at any rate by Roma.

Much as I hate the idea of dispensing with an Italian boy in favour of a Brazilian, as I already said, if Adriano keeps his social needs out of his work then he will be a bit more of the required article than Toni is.

While I concede the days of l'imperatore are gone, Adriano ought to provide us with more than we have now...and he can be played as centroavanti with Vuci to his left, Ménez to his right, both just behind him without Totti when the need demands...or Totti just behind Adri as happens now with Toni when necessary. With the rotation system there will be plenty of need and plenty of opportunity to accommodate all and let's not forget Adriano too knows Serie A.

The only way to save Mexes is by not buying Burdisso and that, I imagine, is the main reason Mexes is being sold, to finance keeping Nico with us.

I have to agree though, some of the names already mentioned for adding to our defence don't exactly inspire confidence.

[maro]

If we were to spend the 20 mil CL money on keeping Burdisso and Luca and Mexes et al. then I would be content. Presumably players like Andreolli and Cerci won't want to hang around for another season on the fringes. We will also need an alternative at left back. I imagine Baptista and Doni will be sold for a little bit of cash and Cicinho and Motta probably the same. Taddei may go as it seems we're not desperate to renew his contract. On the whole, though, I like this squad - had Luca been added over the summer rather than in December I would venture to say we'd have more than 2 more points than we have at this stage of the season. Adriano has pace that Luca doesn't, certainly, but surely Vooch and Menez are the two players around whom this side needs to be being built for the future (and DDR, of course), and Luca complements both of them quite well, I think.

[Carlo Romano]

€20mil, Tom? It just goes to show how the media like to get things out of proportion. I read it was recently estimated as nearer €90mil with all the different "perks" of tv, advertising, etc.

[maro]

Yeah. I think 20 mil is the entry ticket, all else aside. Regardless, do either of us really think we'll spend even 20mil more than we bring in with transfers this summer? I thought my 20 mil on Burdisso and Luca was sheer greed.

[Italiamia]

Last game of the season at the Olimpico:

[Lupa]

Last home game shenanigans with the kids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvUd8PLq ... r_embedded

Whose kid was that who missed the open net? Simone's? ;-)

[red]

[maro]

[Deini]

[maro]

You just want Podolski because of that ridiculous song about him. Personally, I'd quite like Okaka, but that's just me. Early whispers have it Cassetti may be down the left on Sunday, with Motta again at right back. And with Vooch up top alongside Totti - whether in a 4-3-1-2 or a 4-2-3-1.

[Italiamia]

[maro]

[aba_bab]

[maro]

[Carlo Romano]

Gio, you know well we Romani are used to having our emotions behave like a yo-yo. I prefer to feel as long as there is life there is hope though God knows it will take the most extreme circumstances to swing things for us. According to Romanews, the bookies are offereing 7/1 against a Siena home win. I'm surprised, I'd have thought the odds would be even longer than that.


Tommaso, with luck we will have Vuci back in business for next week end and though I'll happily accept our winning off a Toni headed goal, you know I prefer our ball to feet style which suits Totti and Vučinić better. In fact, I prefer our short passing game altogether to our long ball version.


I notice other than Totti's four match ban mentioned by Deini, Chivu and Balotelli got a one match ban each and our club has been fined around €40,000 because of bottles thrown on to the pitch by some of our supporters.

[Italiamia]

[Italiamia]

'Toni has broken with Bayern' Monday
10 May, 2010

Roma striker Luca Toni can't go back to Bayern Munich because his relationship with the club is broken, according to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Toni joined Roma on loan in January and would like to make his move permanent at the end of the season, although negotiations aren't expected to be easy.

The 32-year-old has a lucrative contract with Bayern until 2011 and the German giants don't intend to give him up for nothing. However, Rummenigge's comments will encourage Roma that a deal can be struck. “Luca's relationship with the club is broken and there is no chance of mending it. “It's up to him and his agent to find a solution in Italy,â€

[Carlo Romano]