THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[Carlo Romano]

For tomorrow it appears we have recovered Taddei at least from our "indisposed" list...all the usual Roma websites are referring to Ranieri's probable selection as being one of in emergency...

Deini, Football Italia also went with that story of a Russian oil company led by a man named Leonid Fedun wants to buy Roma... http://www.football-italia.net/sep14i.html

Much more importantly, LaRomasiamonoi has an article just now posted with a statement from Rothschild rubbishing the Russian interest. http://www.laromasiamonoi.it/index.php? ... &Itemid=73

I wonder which is correct!

Unless I am missing something here, this piece from romanews.eu tells us negotiations cannot be opened until January with Mexes regarding his contract. There is no explanation as to why. We are told here that yesterday while at lunch, Mexes went to get himself a glass of orange and picked up this letter addressed to him (supposedly) from Pradè, Montali, Tempestilli, and De Martino, "good humouredly" suggesting he renew his contract with us. If this is a joke it's in the poorest taste, even worse if this is an example of how we are doing business with our players. http://www.romanews.eu/news.asp?pagID=2&newsID=19578



My little "colonna di gossip" part of my post today would make me smile if I wasn't still so angry over Saturday. Our fans surrounded Totti on the team's return to la città eterna and asked him, “Ma, com'è possible Francè?" We aren't told what his response to the question, "how is this possible" was! Also, I had often wondered yet never knew until now just which abbreviation of his first name Totti used. The usual for Francesco is "Ciccio." As we see, he likes "Francè."

Lastly, Nico Burdisso has been given a two match ban.

[RomaShield27]

There don't seem to be too many further reports of any player unrest or upheaval within the squad, so I suppose it possible one can gather from that that there aren't any real problems within the camp at the moment, aside from Mexes. It looks as if our management is now trying to alienate Philippe from the rest of the squad because of the delays over a renewal, much in the same way what happened with Chivu and Cassano in the past, and so Philippe understandably is not happy. Whether any the rest of the boys – Vucinic, Totti etc. – are not happy with this situation as Philppe is a popular figure in the dressing room remains to be seen. Or perhaps we're all just been overly fecking pessimistic. Whatever is going on, though, its hard to focus on the game against Bayern and be optimistic about our chances because all does not seem right at the moment.

[Italiamia]

[Giacomo]

Mexes's agent said today there is no problem and his relationship with the management is excellent. He said he is only out of the team at the moment because of his injury.

I wish we were in Europa League, it is a more suitable competition for Roma. We cannot compete in CL.

[Italiamia]

[Giacomo]

The reports are illogical. Why would Roma not renew his contract when the last mercato before it expires has closed? The only answer must be that they have the intention of renewing it and they realise - like they did with Pizarro, Taddei and Perrotta - that his priority is to stay with Roma.

While Mexes did say in his interview with L'Equipe early this month that he would consider not renewing his contract if he was not having much playing time because it might jeopardise his place in the France squad, he knows that no player can be guaranteed a starting position. As his agent said today, that particular comment (in a long interview) was unduly highlighted.

More important for us is the practice of not renewing all contract at least 12 months before they expire, at least for players who have considerable market value like Mexes. It is illogical to run an unnecessary risk of losing them for free when their contracts expire.

[RomaShield27]

Roma did not renew his contract during the summer because our management made no concrete offer to him to renew as Rosella was hoping he would be this years sacrificial lamb and wished to sell him to the highest bidder. Gladly, no such offers came in and Mexes repeatedly stated he wanted to stay at Roma, and so naturally enough the responses from Prade and Montali started to filter out that Mexes is not for sale and is a key player once it became clear that they couldn't sell him.

His agent also said yesterday that: "to date, no real negotiations for a renewal have begun because we are in a period with matches every three days and everyone is rightly focused on the field." He also said that his comments over his client threatening to leave if he did not get more playing time were somewhat taken out of context, as he meant it in the sense that if he were going to be sitting on the bench for the entire season and barely getting a game then he might seriously think about leaving, but we know that won't be the case at all with Philippe. If anything, his form this season so far shows he will be very hard to leave out of the first team.

Still, the possibility of him leaving for nothing is very real, as our management has once again put itself it an uncomfortable position through sheer unprofessionalism and the possibility of Mexes becoming further alienated by our management is only likely to push him closer to an exit. We can only hope that his will and desire to remain and play for Roma is greater then those who would push him out.

[RomaShield27]

Roma shares rise as UniCredit says sale started
– 13:19 BST, Tue 14 Sep 2010

MILAN, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The process to sell AS Roma <ASR.MI> has started after agreement between the controlling parties, UniCredit <CRDI.MI> deputy chief executive Paolo Fiorentino said, sending shares in the Italian soccer club higher.

Creditor bank UniCredit has been working with owner Italpetroli for months in an effort to put the club up for sale and wipe out large debts. "It went well, there has been a kick off," Fiorentino told reporters after a meeting on Monday with sale advisor Rothschild.

He said the sale process had begun with the agreement of Italpetroli head and club president Rosella Sensi and that UniCredit, which has de facto control of the club, was interested in a good result rather than a speedy sale.

Russian media reported on Tuesday that the vice president of oil company LUKOIL <LKOH.MM>, Leonid Fedun, was interested in purchasing a controlling stake, but LUKOIL had no comment. Italian media have listed several other interested parties. Roma shares were up 10 percent at 1.210 euros at 1209 GMT.

Roma, who finished second in the Italian league last season and were runners-up in the Italian Cup despite their financial constraints, have been the subject of continual takeover talk with Italpetroli struggling to deal with arrears.

Creditors have been trying to force a sale for three years but bids from billionaire financier George Soros and a Swiss consortium never came to fruition. Italian pharmaceutical magnate Francesco Angelini has never put forward concrete plans for a bid after saying he wanted to buy a majority stake in the club.

[maro]

http://www.forzaroma.info/news-as-roma/ ... tista.html
A fairly predictable move from Claudio this, I think, though time will tell. I like the formation; I'm not so sold on the personnel. I think he should play Menez through the middle and then sit either De Rossi or Perrotta, probably De Rossi. I think the break would do him good in all sorts of ways. Brighi is not the same quality of player but from what little I've seen he looks much fresher and in better condition and form.

[RomaShield27]

I like the idea of Brighi starting this game, but I'm not so sure if it should be in place of Menez. Perhaps Perrotta? I don't think we can afford to lose the leadership qualities of De Rossi. I guess Ranieri thinks playing all three of Menez, Totti and Gayhair is too much of a risk, and given the result from the weekend and the low-morale that appears to be around the camp at the moment he may be right.

I'm going to miss the game, unfortunately, as its my nieces birthday party tonight. I asked my brother can she not change her fecking birthday just for this one year but he said no, the prick.

BTW, has anyone seen or heard from Fonz? I don't think I've seen him here on the new site (in fact, his last visit was 28 Jul 2010). Also Kroo and Smiley seem to be lost to us.

[Carlo Romano]

Ed, aren't those guys now on RomaAddict with Edge?





I thought I'd start with this pic, taken at yesterday evening's training sesh in the Allianz stadium, Munich. Amongst all the rumours of the past days, that doesn't to me look like an image of discontent in the ranks and I'll go further by suggesting that we have now only two, possibly three players of saleable value still with us who may feel they have just cause for resentment toward our management, they being Mexes, Baptista, and Doni.

Much as I genuinely applaud la principessa for acting out of character and giving her moral support to the team by attending this important away match, I'm looking for what else may have motivated her in terms of why she should see a need for her presence. Let's say, more realistic reasons, given her track record...being seen to be the figurehead of absolute authority? Rosella publicly stated she didn't blame the players for Saturday's embarrassment and we know she read Ranieri the riot act at her first opportunity. Now what does that imply, if we couple it to the recent news that Ranieri is clearly annoyed by our directors' lack of urgency in extending his contract beyond next summer?

I'm looking below the surface for my answers and am starting with the obvious, which is that no management team likes a coach who is outspoken and unafraid to face up to them. Toward the end of the mercato, Signor Claudio was openly abrasive in his criticism of the handling of the summer transfers. We know he has too strong a personality to allow himself to be pushed aside with weak, inadequate explanations. Under those circs, could it suit her ladyship, the longer she remains in power as head of Newco, to see Ranieri go next summer, should no new owner be by then in place?

In view of the current Rothschild activity we have to hope there will be a new owner which makes this post completely academic in its points made. However, in the midst of all this, Signor Fiorentino of Unicredit wants his slice of glory by reminding us in no uncertain terms that it's thanks to both he and the firm he represents that we have Nico Burdisso and Marco Borriello with us...


Looking at a nonsensically phrased article in LaRoma24.it saying we are at the moment caught between the Arabs and the Panzer in a power struggle, we finally see the face of Mubadala, the latest Arabic business concern to want to buy our club...



...and of course from yesterday, the Russian Bear, Fedun!


What they look like of course, doesn't matter a damn as long as they deliver on their promises! On that point, the only way I could agree with losing Ranieri would in fact be if the day comes when we have a roster of players above his managerial standards or capabilities. Today may not be the day for doing so as we have the Bayern match very much in mind but it'd be good if some of you guys got on board with an opinion on this...next summer would not be the ideal time for him to go!

[RomaShield27]

[Italiamia]

Carlo, I would not be so generous to Rosella. She's getting a free trip for the day to get away from the stress of life. I am not sure if Mr. Rosella Sensi is making the trip with her, but I suspect a day without her is a day well spent with the little baby at home. She is going to continue to take advantage of the benefits of owning a professional sports franchise until the door hits her in the ass on the way out of Roma. Remember, Rosella Sensi is used to living the good life. I see no reason why she would suddenly stop now.

[maro]

Or maybe she's just committed to her team? Not letting contracts run into their final year before renewing them is also why we're stuck with Doni - on a wage that no other club, it seems, was prepared to match. Just saying.

[Italiamia]

[maro]

When he says he feels like a Lazio player does he mean he likes to jack-off to animal porn? To be fair to him, though, clearly he was only answering the leading questions he was given.

[Italiamia]

[stefano]

There's no reason not to be. They tend to be pretty disgusting when examined fairly anyway.

[maro]

Because it is one of the greatnesses of being a Romanista that we can find it within ourselves even to be fair to Laziale dirt. That way, after all, we can offer an especially clear-headed and even-handed account of quite what a bunch of disgusting ass-fuckers they are.

[Carlo Romano]

Gio, it's too easy to just suppose Rosella is after an all expenses paid couple of days in Bavaria. While I believe she really wants to see Roma win, I feel she is giving a person or persons a message here that doesn't only say she is still in charge. There is something more...that's why I say although it's creditable to see her display the public figura of a good presidente, being seen to lead by example, it's tragic for Roma that's where her example of expertise ends. As we see, she is no business expert, nor is she equipped to run a football club...

...as Tommaso rather drily but accurately points out by detailing our directors' woeful handling of transfers and wage structure! In Doni's case, he is probably following Baptista's example of refusing to leave the gravy train because the offers which came for him required him to work for a living.

Steve, Tom, & Gio, amusing and no more, that someone other than Lichtsteiner also recently made a similar remark about Lazio finishing above Roma in the final standings of il campionato but I don't remember who which shows how much attention I paid...Ranieri will be with us at very least until the end of this season and unless he is killed by injury problems, or a bolt of lightning should strike him, then Lazio will not finish above us, no matter what they'd like to think or say! The championship takes a whole season's performance into account, not just the two matches mentioned! They simply lack the intelligence to realise the truth of the matter and we shouldn't mock the afflicted...