THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[Carlo Romano]

Lupa, please! Not even in fun! No, I think Doni will go at the first feasible opportunity. It can't be much fun for him having dropped from our first choice straight to our third! He's not Baptista with an inflated self assessment of his qualities, a guy who thinks he can continue being paid for next to no work until he gets what he terms to be the "correct" offer!

Philou is becoming another matter. Because he is not playing regularly, Blanc has ignored him recently, and for as long as Ranieri remains with us that will only change at his discretion. The bottom line there being, as long as Ranieri remains! The change in circumstances may be, that now there is this interest from Liverpoodle, that might just be the catalyst in sparking off a close to the saga, even if Signor Claudio is obliged to resign!

Yes, an 11:30BST kickoff will mean around 06:30 for you? Of course, you can record the match if it's available on one of your local channels and watch later...to all intents and purposes, it will still be "live" as long as you resist the temptation to hit fast forward!

[vtec]

[vtec]

[vtec]

[romawi]

[romawi]

[Carlo Romano]

You're right, Fahad...in fact Mexes was even yellow carded against Romania! What I was actually thinking was, he runs the risk of Blanc dropping him if he can't get regular first team appearances for us. The mind on too many things!

Taddei will give much needed width on the right or the 4-4-2 won't work as it should. I and others here all said we needed another out and out winger back in the summer and I think you were one of those. Letting Guberti leave wasn't a bad decision as such. If our lupi were on top form then he isn't our standard. What's also wrong, Ménez missing aside, is that Simplicio who is supposedly able to play anywhere in midfield is taking so long to get in shape although I have my doubts as to whether he could compete with Jeremy on the right wing, even when fit. When he was on his game he was a central midfielder. Though I thought he was guilty of the same failings as Mancini...too moody and didn't always show up!

As for the city of L-i-v-e-r-p-o-o-l and both its football clubs...although "The Reds" could be a possible way out for Mexes, one day if I have nothing better to do I may make a post in the Off Topic about that hell hole of a place. Starting with why it has the highest crime rate, is on a par with Manchester in drug taking and dealing, full prisons, and by far the highest percentage of unpaid fines for crimes committed, with no hope of recovery because the buggers can't even be found!

[Giacomo]

[Italiamia]

[romawi]

[Carlo Romano]

Fahad, yeh, I'd got that on Vuci...how about this?




For all the tridente talk yesterday I wonder if this looked more like the players saw, using Cassetti and Castellini up and down the wings?

Unless it was a rigid 4-3-3 which never seems to work for us over 90 mins.

[maro]

Chewna's posts are worth the ticket price alone. He's on fire these days. Air conditioning, Carlo? dibbus and I are a notch or two above that.

[Giacomo]

Vucinic should not play on the side with 2 strikers, whicvh is why I never recall him ever playing in such a formation.

[ASR1927]

Squad announced for tomorrows match. Julio Sergio and Vucinic are back in the squad. Whether Sergio starts or not I don't know. As expected no De Rossi, Menez or Adriano. Perrotta had to stay back due to a fever apparently.

1 Lobont BOGDAN
2 CICERO JOAO DE CESARE (Cicinho)
3 Paolo CASTELLINI
4 JUAN SILVEIRA DOS SANTOS
5 Philippe MEXES
7 DAVID MARCELO CORTES PIZARRO
9 Mirko VUCINIC
10 FRANCESCO TOTTI
11 Rodrigo Ferrante TADDEI
17 John Arne RIISE
19 JULIO CESAR BAPTISTA
22 Marco BORRIELLO
23 Leandro GRECO
27 Julio Sergio BERTAGNOLI
29 Nicolas Andres BURDISSO
30 SIMPLICIO Fabio Henrique
32 DONIEBER MARANGON ALEXANDER
33 Matteo BRIGHI
77 Marco CASSETTI
87Aleandro ROSI
89 OKAKA Chuka Stefano

[Lupa]

No comment from Shield about the fact that the team that so loves those 'international' players is rumoured to be putting big euro signs in front of the eyes of his favourite Montenegrin?

Let's hope we have new owners before that happens. At least owners who will be able to retain our important players instead of selling them to our direct competition. (well, this year our direct competition is somewhat lower in status, but you know what I mean)

[Carlo Romano]

Well, I hope we are all up, bright eyed and bushy tailed for this early kickoff which is none too popular anywhere, particularly with me! I couldn't be bothered reading the entire reasoning behind the protest being planned for today by the Parma fans involving eating sandwiches. It's about the TV audience not being the only ones being "fleeced" thanks to this crazy start time. Sunday lunch is a big family occasion in Italy, its not just a family meal, it's a gathering to be valued...


Lupa, our "gaffer" has, and in the Inter thread. He didn't spare them either! But he is away hill climbing this week end. That's a new name for his most favoured pastime... I'm sure he will tell us it's a necessary deviation!

Professore, whichever way you describe it, you applied a common sense purpose to the proceedings.

Jeff and James, you may both find this morning's news of interest as regards module and selection...



The Romanews update tells us Simo Perrotta is at home as he has flu and a temperature so we won't be seeing him, despite his being mentioned in some of the formations given with this link from all the different sources rather than just one which I'm posting. Note the differing thoughts on formation/selection. Most seem to think we will in fact go with the tridente but it's just not Ranieri in an away match...or if he does begin that way I have the feeling he will revert to a more orthodox module for the second 45.

http://www.romanews.eu/news.asp?pagID=74&newsID=8554




They also mention the possibility of Zdenek Zeman returning to us as coach which might be a discussion point for after the match. I well remember how he made his name in the 1990's with his attacking style and flair, but because of those tactics, all his teams were required to simply outscore their opposition as defending was a low priority with him. That being the principal reason he lost his job with us. He might bring us a reprise of Spalletti's champagne style but at what cost?

Romanews states: An "emblematic" banner was recently seen at the Olimpico suggesting Zeman should return as being the last symbol of honest soccer.

My opinion is that it's not now a feasible suggestion, not with our existing squad. There's also the small matter of him having to leave Foggia whom he currently coaches. We'd really only be swapping one set of problems for another, but it would never be dull with him around, that's for sure...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zden%C4%9Bk_Zeman




Romanews also has a piece on our sale and that the offers should start to arrive after November 3.

http://www.romanews.eu/news.asp?pagID=3&newsID=443

[maro]

[Carlo Romano]

[ASR1927]

Carlo as far as the tridente is concerned didn't Ranieri often play with Totti,Toni and Vucinic last season? Against Inter we started with Vucinic,Menez and Toni so I don't see why he wouldn't go with one again. Borriello is certainly more mobile than Toni. Then again that was during a long unbeaten streak. I hope he throws caution to the wind at least for the first half as being cautious hasn't been working so far.

[Carlo Romano]