THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[Carlo Romano]

Yes, Ed.

But why do we so often in Europe have to fight our way back? That said, at least we had what it took to do that!

Well, we have Palermo at the weekend in Sicilia and that is never easy.

[RomaShield27]

In the first-half we looked frightfully nervous of the big stage, afraid to relax and express ourselves in the way in which we've been doing domestically recently. I don't know why we do this or what, if anything, is to blame, but I suppose the positive is that we put it behind us in the second-half when we really had to. Ranieri must be given credit for his half-time scolding which he no doubt expressed with some passion, but we looked a completely different team in the second. Don't know why we couldn't of start like that. Nevertheless, we got the result in the end.

Ranieri had to say:

“At the start of the season, we would not have been able to turn this game around. We were still thinking about last season, but all those slaps we got woke us up and we realised that we were back in it psychologically. It started from the Brescia game, even if we lost.”

[SPqR]

Rosella had this to say:
“At the end we proved that we can play with four strikers, but of course we always respect the decisions of the Coach.”

Keep hacking darts you dumb CUNT.

[Deini]

When I heard in the intermission of Ajax - Real Madrid that Roma was behind 2-0 against Bayern I thought, here we go again. Should've seen my face when I heard it ended 3-2 for Roma. People around me where like why he smiling, Ajax just got murdered by Madrid and yet he is smiling.

[vtec]

[vtec]

[RomaShield27]

[Carlo Romano]

[Carlo Romano]

Vincenzo & 'Tec, perhaps we giallorossi can console ourselves with the fact that La Sensi is on her way out.

Ed, would your blood pressure have stood being in the Olimpico last night...what a contrast in performance from first to second halves!

Johnny, if you'd worn a Roma scarf, that would really have raised eyebrows! But they would have then understood...

[romawi]

[Deini]

Voce Giallorossa comes with the news that Roma is thinking about Sirigu as next years goalie. Him or Marchetti? Sirigu lot younger tho. Still I would call Curci back but he wants to stay at Sampdoria.

Wearing a Roma scarf yesterday wasn't a bad idea Carlo haha.

[Carlo Romano]

You think so, Johnny? I don't know about Sirigu. He is certainly good enough for Serie A and we will see on Sunday how he deals with us. I made a post in our Azzurri section following his playing for Italy. I said then, I wasn't sure whether he was just nervous as a new boy on the big stage or whether he might not be all we would hope for and I'm still uncertain. We need someone who can cope with the CL later stages if we are to progress...

Marchetti we know our management has already shown interest in. I know I can't see either of those two guys being happy about taking second place to Julio Sergio though. It's easy to say it won't hurt to give him competition but if he continually proves his worth as he has been doing, neither Sirigu nor Marchetti would stand for merely being "rotation system" call ups.

[Italiamia]

[RomaShield27]

I've just watched the game again and my word, my fecking word, what a game and what a performance and what a result that was. Simply feckkkkin sensational, magical, glorious stuff. The stuff of la magic. A cracking match.

Having watched it in its entirety tonight, I have to say we weren't actually that bad in the first-half. A little nervy to begin with, allowing Bayern to control the game to much, but we were a little unfortunate with the two goals, the first of which could of been a free-out for a tug on Cassetti's shirt and no one was really at fault and the second was a miscommunication at the back. Like Tuna pointed out, our midfield three struggled against Bayern's, and Greco, certainly, was disappointing. I think he looked a little over-eager and was trying to do too much early on and gave away some silly fouls and then his yellow, and after that he was practically made redundant as he couldn't commit to challenges and so was extremely nervous. Simplicio gave us a little extra in the second-half, and our front three of Borriello, Vucinic and Menez, right throughout, were simply magnificent. Borriello was exceptional at leading the line and making great runs in behind and holding up the ball, and Vucinic done brilliantly in more of a provider role providing great passes and link up play. Vucinic's touch was ridiculously good, too, and its taken for granted now that he'll almost skin a man or two. Tonight he also managed to deliver on a final ball, which was great to see (there was also no way, Tuna, that his chance was "sitter". It came at him with a lot of pace).

De Rossi was also superb throughout and pinged some delightful balls forward, something which has been lacking from his game recently. It was great to see him sprint over to Pizarro on the sideline, who was about to come on, to celebrate. Pizarro gave us a boost when he came on too with his composure and control.

All in all a super night, and if we can play with that belief and self-confidence for a full 90 minutes and not do anything silly at the back (a big ask, maybe) we are a match for any side in Europe. Until we lose to Chievo. Or Brescia.

[romawi]

[maro]

thredzo, you're a bit more enthusiastic than the pagelle:

De Rossi 6: Primo tempo disastroso. Fatica come non mai, sempre in ritardo e col fiatone in ogni occasione. Sua l’ingenuità (insieme a Menez) che regala il raddoppio a Gomez. Nella ripresa cresce piano piano per poi decollare con il gol del momentaneo pareggio. Ci si aspettava di più da lui, ma era al rientro dopo l’infortunio.

De Rossi 7 : Primo tempo così e così, nella ripresa però, sale in cattedra capitan futuro. Recupera palloni, corre tantissimo, e pulisce di continuo la propria area di rigore. Si inserisce benissimo nell'azione del gol del pareggio giallorosso.

Vucinic 5,5: Non riesce mai ad entrare in partita. La forma non c’è ancora è si vede. Tanti i tentativi di dribbling andati a vuoto però almeno ci prova, anche con qualche conclusione da lontano. Al bacio l’assist per Riise sul secondo gol.

Vucinic 6: Troppo a sprazi. Non è nel suo momento migliore di forma. Ha il grande merito però, di regalare una palla incredibile a Riise che da il via all'azione del pareggio giallorosso.

[RomaShield27]

Those pagelle are ridiculous. Vucinic contributed a lot more than they would have you believe. At least I offer my thoughts on the game, unlike you who spends all day talking in the SB making comments which are now lost for everyone to see, and then all you can do is come here to criticise what others have to say.

[maro]

Stop being so prickly, thredzo. I wasn't criticising. Lord knows I think those pagelle are often miles off the mark. I just thought it was interesting to note that both forzaroma and romanews thought DDR had an ordinary first half but then grew into the game and both commented that Vooch isn't quite in form. I'm not saying they're right. I just thought you'd be interested in their rather different takes on the performances of those two. It's usually more interesting when others have different takes on a game than you do since it can clarify - confirm, qualify - your own instinctive assessments. They weren't quite so enthusiastic about Cassetti's game as I think Chewna was either.

As I said a couple of days ago, I think it would be to the benefit of all were people to work on the starting assumption that posts are good-humoured and constructive rather than sniping. Until that practice and that culture becomes once again the norm in here I shall be inclined to stay away.

[Carlo Romano]

Further to my recent mentioning of our interest in Mickael Ciani, the Bordeaux central defender...the opinion on Mexes we all know but the Ciani part is perhaps worth a read.

From Forza Roma:

Vital Matteo, writing for www.forza-roma.com has called the expert of French soccer, FIFA agent Fabrizio Ferrari to discuss the matter.

Matteo: These days, a lot is being spoken about the possible "goodbye" of Philippe Mexès to Roma and his possible substitute, Mickael Ciani. What do you think?

Ferrari: The French press states that Laurent Blanc favours players from big clubs such as Mexes but he does not often play for Roma. Ciani is much stronger physically but needs work on a tactical level. Difficult to see him in Italy, I see him better in England.

Ferrari states the obvious on Mexes that he has to either leave us or make up his mind that Roma is his "nazionale!" Ciani he can't see coming to us. Because I don't really get to see the French Ligue Un, I'm none the wiser on this man...



Also from Forza Roma:

Jose Mourinho on Nico Burdisso, 24/11/10: "When I arrived at Inter in the summer of 2008, I said it was better that he left because there would have been no space for him. I wanted to sell him in order to invest on other players and thus I programmed his sale. Burdisso said to me when he left: 'I will show you that I can play.' I replied, 'OK, we will see what happens. Today I don't want you but perhaps tomorrow will be an other day.' In the end, Nicolas has shown to be one of the best players I have met and trained in my career."



Tommaso... later, ya fookin' old pest!

[Carlo Romano]

Romanews gives us a few snippets of small talk this afternoon and just a couple of worthwhile pieces of info...



Re/our weekend match... Maurizio Zamparini had asked for a referee who would not "penalise" his side as he feels has happened in the past against Roma. On hearing Christian Brighi is the designated arbitro, he was pleased. All the more reason for hoping we win...I can just imagine Zampa's comments then. He never knows when to let it go!

There have been 2 victories for us, 2 draws, and 2 defeats in La Favorita. If we win, it will swing the balance in our favour. The stats show we do better with our Capitan' Francè than without...I don't believe in coincidences but perhaps our mister does! Zampa also commented on our interest in Sirigu and reminds us he has still 4 years left of his Palermitano contract...



Stefan Savic, if he comes to Roma at all, won't come in January. Partisan, his present club has said all offers will be considered in the coming summer mercato



David Pizarro put on his "clown hat" and amused his team mates. He said that while some of them have hardly slept with the high state of euphoria following Tueesday night, he wanted to dream about it all over again... Borriello's goal, Ménez' "wriggles," and of the impact of our "two captains," present and future. On that score, Totti has apparently promised he will tell his son of Tuesday night when he grows up. He takes his "big sister" Rosella's words seriously that the Bayern match belongs in Roma history.



Much more importantly, we are told Perrotta and Taddei could return to normal training next week, and in new security measures, our away match with Chievo is one of several to have the travelling support denied tickets for the safety of local residents in the listed areas below...

Matches affected:

Lazio-Inter 3/12/2010
Chievo-Roma 4/12/2010
Milan-Brescia 4/12/2010
Catania-I Ladri 5/12/2010
Cesena-Bologna 5/12/2010



Lastly, Football Italia is running the story of our supposed interest in Bayern's Andreas Ottl. We need something more concrete of a source...http://www.football-italia.net/nov25k.html

On that subject, Forza Roma tells us our management is interested but signing Ottl is not a priority.