THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[maro]

the "The Serie A Forum invites you to join our discussion!" bit makes my toes curl; otherwise it's fine. Did edzo not tell you the board rule about exclamation marks, Carlo?

[maro]

Oh, and I bet this fucking game's not going to be streamed, or have Napoli sorted out their issues with the tv dudes?

[Giacomo]

Yes, the TV rights are the property of the Lega now which sells them collectively.

[maro]

Grazie, Giacomo. Now I can look forward to Sunday (and tomorrow evening) with unalloyed enthusiasm. It really bit me in the arse last year when I couldn't watch our game at their place.

[stefano]

No response = no interest (as far as I go).

[RomaShield27]

You should really rub some shillings together and buy a TV, Thomo. You know most Roma games are on TV these days in the UK?

Nice banner Carlo. Like you said if the likes of graphics like that can encourage more posting (like it did with Stef – that must be his first post in here in... jasus, a month?!) than its worth a shot. Perhaps instead of that last line you could try the logo? Hmm one if these:

images/general/SerieAForums-logo.jpg
images/general/SerieA-Logo.jpg

[Carlo Romano]

Ed, I've saved your images to my hard drive. I have a good constructive future project for those in mind!

Tom, I agree and I edited the banner just giving the live tv coverage.

Steve, that's good you say no opinion equals no interest. I need to know these things so I can get an accurate picture. I imagine you are in favour of keeping things as is, one big open conversation thread?



I'm thinking very much about this evening's match with Cluj...but there are always diversions.

Amongst all the of birthday greetings, votes of confidence between Francè and il mister, the assurances of never being an embarrassment to Roma etc, I can just imagine the facial expression of our Capitan' when he heard Paolo Di Canio had taken a swipe at him over the way he left the pitch on Saturday, accusing him of not being a true leader...and as the expression goes, "Every picture tells a story!"



Our gallant leader must have had to bite his tongue when replying he understood Di Canio had to be seen and heard to behave like that for the media!


Back to this evening and Cluj about whom I can find little to write about, other than they had a change of name early this year and are now called FC Universitatea Cluj-Napoca...

Being overshadowed by the Totti "huff," it's easy to forget Adriano too has a grievance. If we remember, he was preparing to come on but didn't get the chance. Ranieri took a gamble in the eyes of some by taking Totti off against Inter, but I say on the night it was sound judgment. He wasn't getting or setting up goals. Signor Claudio will gamble in favour of Big Fatso tonight... I will be most surprised if he doesn't play some part against Cluj.

I don't suppose anyone needs reminding but just in case, two years ago we won in Romania by 3-1 and Cluj won in Roma by 2-1...a headache we don't need a repeat of!

[RomaShield27]

Not quite related to tonight's game, but what do we think Ranieri will do if and when it comes to the stage when we have all of our first team forwards fully fit and all expecting to play? In the light of Totti's little strop at being substituted against Inter I was thinking who would Ranieri drop for the big games? Obviously having a good few quality forwards can only be a good thing but then with that also comes the burden of having to keep them all happy, and with Totti's less than perfect example it is conceivable that it could lead to further problems down the road. I hope thats not the case, and of course they won't always all be available and fit to play at the same time, but it is something which Ranieri will no doubt be considering.

Totti was excellent against Inter and he still sees and does things which other good players simply can't, and a lot of time I think we take for granted his brilliance and touch of genius (which is only normal I suppose, after appreciating him for so long) which he brings to the field. He did waste a fair bit of ball up close to the Inter box which is unlike him, but overall his contribution was very good and the influence he brings cannot be underestimated. He did tire toward the end of the game and now, as he pushes on in years, I think its fair to say he won't have as much gas in the tank with each passing game. If he can stay injury-free he still capable of being a starter every week, no question, but how long he remains on the pitch or indeed how often he plays remains to be seen.

Borriello, I have to say, has greatly impressed me in his Roma career thus far. I have said before that I was never the biggest fan of 'oul GayHair, but since joining us he seems to be playing his football with a lot more confidence and belief then he did at Milan. The shackles seem to be off, as it were, and he perhaps no longer feels he has to try his upmost to impress at every opportunity like he did at Milan and as a result is a bit more care-free and relaxed and so more focussed on his actual game. He has done well for us a prima-punta and took his goals nicely against Brecia and Bologna, and if he continues like this he should get a lot more.

Vucinic, well, I don't think I need to say much about here, now do I...? Ok, we all know what he is capable off, but right now I think it is fair to say that he is our most complete and important forward. He was our in all competitions last season and this season he looks like he will have an even better one, and on form he simply cannot be left out of our starting line-up.

Menez is probably our most improved player over the last season or so and is really beginning to come into his own. He's been showing impressive form this season and played very well against Inter in creating numerous chances while also working like a dog in tracking back. Even though he's been subbed in every game for us so far it shows Ranieri has full confidence in him now to do all that is asked of him, and he can only get better now as he gets more game time, particularly playing down through the middle.

So how do we work all four into the side when everyone is fit and ready (again, it won't be all the time, but it will happen)? Whom do we play and whom do we drop? Obviously, factors like form, fitness and formations will have a say, but presuming we see the either the 4-3-1-2 or 4-2-3-1 someone will have to be left out sitting on the bench (I didn't factor fAtdriano into this as he is still too fat and must realise he is not yet ready to push for regular playing time).

It is evident that both Vucinic and Menez are more versatile and can play in different roles – Vuc out left, up top; Menez in the hole, out wide – while Borriello is a pure target man, and Totti, due to his aging legs and decreased mobility, can only really play up top now as well. Crucially I'm not sure if we can see all three of Totti, Vucinic and Borriello on the pitch at the same time, as I'm not sure if Ranieri is as adventurous to try such a tridente or to push Vuc out to the left-wing in a 4-4-2 (where he'd be slightly wasted anyway), and while that doesn't necessarily mean Menez would be an automatic starter, it is likely we could see more of Totti on the bench. He may not like it, in fact he certainly won't, but at 34 now I don't think we can expect him to play every game, and he may have to start some games from the bench. It's an unenviable position which Ranieri may find himself in soon enough and it'll be a hard call to make, but he has shown in the past that he is not afraid to drop anyone to suit his team.

[vtec]

totti was not excellent against inter. he was average at best. excellent were pizarro and riise.

[RomaShield27]

Yeh your probably right, Pizarro and .... er... Perrotta (not Redser), perhaps, were excellent against Inter and a step above Totti's performance. He did waste a fair bit of ball upfront which is unlike him and had a couple of dodgy touches, but overall he was good and like I said his influence cannot be underestimated. Still, it was the right call for Ranieri to take him off when he did (in fact it probably should of happened sooner), and I was highlighting that this is something we are probably going to see more off – or indeed, Totti coming off the bench – which is really a first for Totti, and so it will be interesting to see how that develops.

[ASR1927]

Totti's reaction to being subbed was indeed very disappointing especially for the Captain of the team. He is supposed to set an example for the rest of the players. Unfortunately we know all too well that from time to time he doesn't live up to what is expected of the Captain. He will need to learn to deal with this because as Ed said above it will become more common the older he gets.

I have to agree with Vtec. It was great having Riise back in the team. While his defending isn't the best he made some great runs and just doesn't quit! He plays EVERY game with the passion and determination of a born and bred Romanista. To me the taint of playing for that other team is gone. He is an important part of the squad. I goes without saying that I am a Pizarro fan (as you can see from my avatar) and he was brilliant in that match as he often is for us.

[RomaShield27]

I do agree about Riise, too, of course. He is a key player for us now and is immense for us at times. But for me, the taint of playing for that other team will never cease, much like the ginger mop upon his head the emblem of that club and his time there will forever blight his efforts for us now, I'm sorry to say. Thats just the way it is.

On Totti, here are a couple of pieces touching on the debate:

http://www.football-italia.net/blogs/si108.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... rnazionale (about halfway into the piece)
http://www.footballitaliano.co.uk/p6_1_ ... -show.html?

Also, cool new Ermes79 vid on our glorious victory over IntersuckhorsecockMilano:

[ASR1927]

[maro]

We would have beaten Bologna had Riise been playing and I suspect we might have held on for a point against Bayern too. His engine is incredible and under-rated. He's always the player leading the counters from defensive corners in the 90th minute. He almost singlehandedly stops us getting pushed back behind the ball completely and gives us an out when we try to come forward again. His contribution to the dynamics of this side is simply invaluable. When he arrived Panucci said he was a great player and remembered him from Monaco when his engine and work-rate were incredible. I now know what Panucci was talking about.

[RomaShield27]

Agreed about Riise. Ginger tosser though he is.

PROBABILI FORMAZIONI:

ROMA (4-2-3-1): 1 Lobont; 77 Cassetti, 5 Mexes, 29 N. Burdisso, 17 Riise; De Rossi, 7 Pizarro; 94 Menez, 20 Perrotta, 9 Vucinic; 10 Totti. In panchina: 32 Doni, 2 Cicinho, 3 Castellini, 4 Juan, 30 Simplicio, 19 Baptista, 8 Adriano, 22 Borriello. Allenatore: Ranieri.

CLUJ (4-4-1-1): 44 Stancioiu; 4 Panìn, 15 Alcàntara, 20 Cadù, 24 Rada; 7 Dica, 11 Costa, 28 Konè, 19 Culio; 16 Bastos; 9 Traorè. In panchina: 1 Nuno Claro, 2 Tony, 13 Piccolo, 66 Edimar, 99 Sforzini, 22 Hora, 10 De Zerbi. Allenatore: Cartu

Giving Juan a rest in favour of Mexes is a good idea considering Mexes is suspended in the league (and we don't want to risk Juan fekkin himself up of course). De Rossi should perhaps also get a rest and give Brighi a start but I suppose this is a must-win game so...

[Carlo Romano]

The big news for me was seeing Pizarro at lunch time on Mediaset was passed as fit.

We can't underestimate these Romanians. I remember their coach Mircea Lucescu from not only his time as coach of Inter, but of Pisa, Brescia, and Reggiana. He knows il calcio Italiano and our ways...

Something Walter Zenga is quick to point out. He also mentions that Cluj are not in best form for the moment but Ranieri too is aware of this. I noticed il mister was also quoted (LaRoma24.it) as saying they won't take us by surprise this time, unlike last. Let's hope so because this match is step two in our recovery process.

[ASR1927]

Wow we can rest one quality central defender and play another quality central defender off the bench??! This must be this depth thing that people speak of!?

Bring on Step 2 of Recovery Carlo!

FORZA ROMA

[maro]

We will win a million to nil because we rock and they suck horse cock. And Pizarro's over-rated.

[Frenchesco]

I liked your post Shield, wondering about what is going to happen when Il Mister will have all forward players fit and ready to play. And I have to say it worries me a bit.
I am actually quite surprised no one has really criticized Totti. I have to say that I like him less and less. I will not forget who he is and what he has done but I think many Roma fans are not objective when judging him. If they support Roma, then I guess they should be more critics towards him. I do not agree that he can do whatever he likes...because one day this shit like sunday will really affect the team and roma will suffer from this.
I also do not agree with you that he has been excellent. His work rate has been better than what we were used to see but he is slow and do not make much difference anymore. Could you pls tell me when is the last time he has really made a difference against a big team??? I am aware that he is able to score a hat trick tonight and so I ll just have to shut up. But i m thinking about the manager, about his teammates and feel that he is just so selfish. I do not like when a player react that way when being substituted, and so even less when it is one from Roma...and even less when it is the captain, the one supposed to be the example. I've read your links..here is one more
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editor ... n-its-time

anyway...no time to finish what i wanted to write.
FORZA ROMA!!!

[Italiamia]