THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[RomaShield27]

Good win in the end. We looked quite pedestrian at times but done what we had to, even if we made it difficult for ourselves by letting them back into it. Burdisso should of been tighter on Gilardino for their first goal, I felt. Nevertheless a solid result and good to get our fourth win on the trot. Things are looking a lot brighter.

[maro]

We won. We rock. Fuck the 'merda. Fuck yiz all. Yeah.

[p_maldini_3]

menez is really turning into something.

[maro]

Did he play well today? Did he play through the middle? Did Pizza play?

[RomaShield27]

Yep, through the middle. He was probably MoTM for us today. Fiorentina gave him a criminal amount of space and he exploited it to the best of his ability, great game from him. Gonna be tough to leave him on the bench against Juvemerda. Pizza wozn't even on the bench ya dope.

[maro]

I know he wasn't. I'm just making a point - let's hope Claudio's reading. It's nice to be able to sit that crappy Montenegro and play some quality forwards instead.

[ASR1927]

Roma 3-2 Fiorentina: Lupi Edge Past Resilient Viola As Revival Continues

Claudio Ranieri's men picked up their second win in only three days tonight as they overcame a stubborn Viola at the Olimpico to climb to sixth in the standings, albeit temporarily. Fabio Simplico broke the deadlock just before half-time and Marco Borriello added a second shortly after the break. Alberto Gilardino and Simone Perrotta traded goals in the following minutes, before Gaetano D'Agostino scored a wonderful free-kick in the waning moments of the game.

Roma showed they mean business right from the start as they were looking to get an early goal in front of a demanding home crowd. Marco Borriello in particular was very active upfront and had a chance to open the scoring in the 21st minute, but saw his header from the box saved by Artur Boruc.

Minutes later the ex-Milan striker had another opportunity to break the deadlock, but put his finish wide of the right post. Jeremy Menez, too, was denied by the Polish goalkeeper shortly after, following a blistering run on the right wing. Fiorentina got their first chance of the game in the 27th minute, when Alberto Gilardino was superbly blocked by Nicolas Burdisso in the six-yard box as the striker was looking to pounce on a deflected ball.

The best chance of the game by that point fell to the Viola eight minutes later when Fabio Simplicio was denied at the far post by Artur Boruc, following a cross in the box by Francesco Totti from the left wing. Adrian Mutu was presented with a free-header just outside the goal area shortly after, following a brilliant backheel by Alberto Gilardino, but could not react quickly enough to put the opportunity away.

In the waning moments of the first half, however, the deadlock was finally broken as Fabio Simplicio scored from a carbon-copy of the situation in which he found himself ten minutes before as Roma entered half-time with a slender lead.

The Lupi continued to be the more active team after the break and deservedly doubled their advantage six minutes after the restart when Marco Borrielo was presented with a simple tap-in, following a great run by Jeremy Menez.

In the 67th minute Marco Borrielo failed to put the game beyond Viola's reach as he placed a completely free header from just outside the goal area over the bar. Roma were going to rue this missed opportunity as two minutes later Fiorentina were suddenly back in the game after Alberto Gilardino halved their lead with a deft touch from the right side of the box.

Viola's newly received momentum did not last long as they were pegged back by the hosts in the 77th minute when substitute Simone Perrotta made it three, following an absolute howler by Artur Boruc.

Substitute Gaetano D'Agostino scored a wonderful free-kick in injury time to give the game a dramatic ending, but it was not to be for the Viola as the match ended 3-2.

Following tonight's result, Roma are sixth in the standings while Fiorentina are eleventh. The Lupi's next league game is a visit to Juventus on the 13th November, while the Viola host Cesena on the same day.

[maro]

1. Was that Totti who played Menez in for Borriello's goal? That was a quite brilliant cross-field ball.
2. It wasn't Cerci, at least, but I guess we'll still have to piss in the Avocado's ear for D'Agostino's goal.
3. Perrotta's rubbish. What a terrible finish.

[Lupa]

1. Yes, that was Totti. Even though he's not in his best shape, his vision is amazing.
2. Of course players that we gave up on at one point come back to bite us at times, and this was his turn.
3. GK error on that one, good finish from Simone, nice long pass from Mexes. Well done.

Menez was definitely MOTM, but as usual, didn't play the full 90. I hope it's because Ranieri will start him on the weekend. Speaking of the weekend, I see that the refs are still giving cards that favour Rube, by making sure Motta's suspended for the game against us. Cicinho had a pretty nice game today, at least during the part I saw.

[romawi]

3. GK error? More like GK error FORCED by Perrotta's great run.

[Italiamia]

It completely escaped me that we play those rubentus cockroach, scum bags, fuck faces this weekend. Will the cement footed has been and winner of the golden shaft award ten years running, Waterboy, be on the pitch I wonder.

[Lupa]

[maro]

lacist leactionly.

[RomaShield27]

Thanks, Thomo.

[maro]

dirty admin bastid.

Ranieri 7 - Ha avuto il merito nelle ultime settimane di ascoltare i suoi ragazzi e schierarli in campo nel modo migliore. Il 4-3-1-2 sembra proprio il modulo più adatto a questa Roma.

I reckon if I were manager of Roma we'd be ten points clear at the top.

[RomaShield27]

[Giacomo]

I would like to hear a viable alternative presented. As I said above, operating a professional football club is not profitable, although developing Roma and selling it in the future might be, consequently there are hardly any people who want to become involved in this business.

Given that you prefer Angelucci to Aabar, I hope you will therefore willingly accept the relatively low glass-ceiling which will be imposed on Roma as a result.

[Deini]

Sources close to Dimito (who wrote the article yesterday about Tisch and Aabar) are saying that Aabar is very calm right now and are prepared to raise their offer in order to defeat any competitor when they get to the auction phase.

There is much more though, as why Aabar is preferred over the Americans by Rotschild and Unicredit. Has to do with how the Americans tend to dump depth on their clubs citing Manchester United and Liverfekkin'wankscum as examples. Whereas the fund that owns Man City has absorbed all the debt from the club.

But hey still a long way to go in this soap opera. We are getting results on the pitch. Saturday the match against Juventus.

Oh, that was a nice freekick from D' Agostini.

[RomaShield27]

I don't openly welcome Angelucci, of course not. I realise he is a far from ideal owner. Its just the alternative of foreign ownership is one which I vehemently detest. Thats all.

There is no profit in owning football clubs, your right (unless they are sold down the road), and for that reason it is a great shame that there are no fans of the club who are seriously coming forward to stake their claim. Not just Angelini, but where is Gaetano Caltagirone, the multi-billionaire property magnet, a man born in Rome, a man who could easily drop €500m on Rome and not think twice about it? Why has he not expressed an interest? Where are the Toti brothers? Where are the Coppola family? Is there really no one else interested in purchasing AS Roma?

[maro]

I suspect those men have rather better things to do with their money, thredmund.