THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[maro]

I guess some are just quicker at solving such conundra than others.

[RomaShield27]

[ASR1927]

Hey Edzo wasn't I calling for a certain Mister Given a month or so ago?

Who did you go with for your TV Ed?

[RomaShield27]

Yeh you were indeed Jeffo. I can't see why we wouldn't make a move for Shay. His wages would be the only stumbling block, of course. I believe he earns something along the lines of £60,000-per-week, a pittance to Citeh but a fortune to us, but there aren't many clubs who can afford to pay all of that anyway (Arsenal being one). Citeh would still have to contribute to his wages and we pay some contribution, say half.

Went with UPC. €70 per month for 80+ channels (with Setanta and ESPN, don't need SS), 15mb broadband and phone. Very good deal, although I have heard some bad reports about their broadband, but I thought i'd give it a shot. Do you have digital?

[ASR1927]

No I don't have any cable/digital at the moment. Can't afford it whilst I am unemployed. However once I get a job (fingers crossed) I will get it as I am sick of watching Roma on the internet. Let me know how UPC turn out if you don't mind.

I really do hope they do go for Shay I would have the utmost confidence in him being between the sticks..

[maro]

I shouldn't want to surprise you with all of the unexpected observations I have on Perrotta, thredzo.

[Giacomo]

I would love to hear some justification for Perrotta's apparent importance to the team.

Isn't Given too old? We want to move towards lowering the average age of the squad and there are plenty of talented goalkeepers in Italy who seem to me to be preferable to Given if we invest in that position next year like Sirigu, Agazzi and Marchetti.

[RomaShield27]

Too old? He's only 34, which is arguably when a goalkeeper is his prime. If it were to be made a permanent deal he could be our number one for at least three or four years. There's also the fact that he is easily a better goalkeeper than any in our current squad or any of those you mentioned. I think he would be a great signing.

Tomzo, surprise us with your thoughts on Perrotta. James is eager to hear them, as am I. Ah go on.

[maro]

Well, for one thing he absolutely has to play in all of our Champignons League games so as to give the English commentators I always seem to get on my streams something to talk about.

[Giacomo]

[Italiamia]

[Carlo Romano]

I'm going to be busy this week end, preparing things which need done. I will just about have time to see the Inter match though I wish the lead up to it was under happier circs!

Reading around, seeing articles on all the talk still coming from our presidentessa, our directors, and il mister, I have to say that if we set aside their righteous indignation over the officiating on Wednesday, it's been a bit of a heaven sent opportunity for them to draw attention away from all our poor results since the start of this season, and they are milking it to the hilt.

Romanews mentions that Rosella as a matter of course intends to ask for a replay of the Brescia game, a request which we know will not be granted. There is to be an appeal against both the fine and three match ban for Mexes. All very admirable but also not likely to come about. What really annoys me about our chosen favourite sport is the way its governing bodies can dish out punishments which don't match the crime. It won't be the case but even if that halfwit Russo is given a lengthy ban, that doesn't compensate us! As for Philou, by confronting both Russo and the fourth official as he did, he sealed his fate even if acting through mitigating circumstances.

As Tommaso accurately pointed out yesterday, "Shit happens!"

The best thing our coach, players, and management can do is to roll up their sleeves and get on with the work!


With that said, this line from our mister caught my eye on the Mediaset text service today. "Io pero posso dire ho ritrovato la Roma che tutti i Romani vogliono, quella che ha fatto tanto bene l'anno scorso," which translates as "I have to say I have once again found the Roma that all Romans would like, the one which did very well over the past year." That can't be taken literally as tomorrow night there is a good chance we will see players who either were not with us last season or did not fully contribute to it.

So, presuming he spoke metaphorically... we the fans saw for ourselves on Wednesday that we had to go down to ten men before we really gave it a go and I'm thinking, with what to me is good reason, that the fire we showed late on was sparked by the ongoing events of occasion rather than anything else. We've seen Baptista, Cicinho, and Adriano play for us before and not show that kind of fight. What happened in Brescia can't really be translated into the Olimpico tomorrow night, no matter how much our coach hopes and it's therefore up to him to lead by example and prep the lads well for tomorrow.

Unlike some tifosi romani, I have liked Claudio Ranieri being with us. He wouldn't be human if the strain wasn't getting to him but he is, as several football pundits have remarked, starting to behave out of character. Raging at circumstances outwith his control helps no-one. If Ranieri is letting the things out of his control affect his ability to influence the things he can change, such as his players' state of mind, these next three games against Inter, Cluj and Napoli will show it.

As for the theatrics, there is a big difference between Signor Claudio and Carlo Mazzone who made a career of them and not just with our Roma! Sor Carletto as I fondly remember him made drama work for him. That was his modus operandi, what he was all about, and he got things done! Ranieri, if he is losing his grip, needs to be himself. This ploy of playing to the audience, using someone else's style isn't him. He has enough of himself to rescue us from disaster, and if not to actually win us anything, at least lead us back to respectability. He needs to see he has that in him right now. If not, then we will be looking for a new coach as a Christmas present, perhaps an early one!

The Rai text service mentioned that De Rossi, Castellini, and Riise are all training again and will be likely to play against Cluj or Napoli rather than Inter. They were also hinting around a start for Adriano...

Tomorrow there is little chance of a deviation from the formazione probabile. Vučinić will almost certainly be kept for next week, and it seems as if Lobont has been chosen to attempt to be our goalkeeper tomorrow. We thought JS would be out for a month and now we hear it could be as much as two...


It's been quite some time since I made a joke about reaching for the prayer mat...and now I'm no longer joking!

[Carlo Romano]

I'm reading that Sawiris the Egyptian magnate is now re-evaluating his position with Unicredit and could well move on to another business venture instead of buying Roma. I'm not unhappy about that. As a matter of interest, does anyone have any current info to share on the American businessman Fisher who already failed in an attempt to buy our club in November 2007, and who has reputedly joined the list of interested parties?


Vocegiallorossa along with Romanews and LaRoma24 is going with the idea that Riise will in fact play against Inter. He has said he feels ready and wants to play. So they are projecting a 4-3-1-2 formation:




Again only a projected selection, and in all probability it will not be this group which starts. But if it is, I don't like the fact we are reliant on Cassetti and Riise for any genuine width in our attack and I am fairly sure Ranieri will have to bring Ménez, Cicinho, or Baptista into the mix at some point... but really, like many other Romani I'm now beyond caring about names and formations in any way other than that those who do play should give Inter a real fight for the points.

[romawi]

[RomaShield27]

[Giacomo]

The only reason to start Brighi and Perrotta together is if they both play in a midfield 3 if De Rossi isn't fit.

I would accept Perrotta playing in that role as a back up for De Rossi, but to start him ahead of Menez behind two strikers doesn't make sense given his characteristics. Also, we have seen in recent games that Menez's game is coming together, but too frequently he lacks the necessary quality with the final pass. The quickest way for that to come is for him to play.

If we are to achieve anything this season, I believe Menez will be an important reason why.

[RomaShield27]

I agree that Menez will have an important part to play if we do achieve anything positive this season (at this stage, 4th would positive), but starting Perrotta ahead of him makes perfect sense if you want to put out a more defensive and hard-working line-up to combat a physical side like Inter. Menez has come on a lot in his defensive game but Perrotta still offers a lot more in that sense. Anyway, the is that both Perrotta and Menez will start and Brighi will be on the bench, which I agree with.

[Carlo Romano]

Guys, further to Ed's above post, this should warm your hearts a little...


LaRoma24.it also tells us Riise passed a late fitness test and will play tonight on the left with Cassetti on the right. Menez won the ballot against Brighi and will also start, as does De Rossi! Vuci is amongst the named subs.

I'm ever the optimist. That's why I've been a giallorosso for all the years I have been. I'm not thinking of i lupi being beaten tonight! Time to worry about negatives after they happen, if they happen.


The quoted article: http://laroma24.it/archivio/28012/roma- ... iello.html

[RomaShield27]

With Vucinic on the bench, there is always hope, Carlo.

[Carlo Romano]

Yes indeed, Ed! But did you also notice our pair of Pilsbury Doughboys are listed with him?

Just so long as we give a good account of ourselves. No-one as you have already mentioned, wants a Coppa Italia repeat...