THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[maro]

So it looks as though things are finally hastening towards a conclusion and that the Roma of the future is going parlare Americano. I'm not sure fredzo won't think that's the worst of the worst - gio will be pleased the French offer has gone out the window, but I've got to say there'd be some advantages to having a European owner who - one might presume tentatively - would have a surer feel for the culture of the game in Europe. I find it all rather depressing, to be honest - I get more excited by what's happening on the pitch; that we need new ownership reminds me of some of the basic things I dislike about the game.

[stefano]

Especially when one is a fan of this team. So it goes, I guess. That said, I did always hope to be the first American to own Roma.

[Italiamia]

[Lupa]

5 febbraio 2011 - Serie A Tim, gara Inter-Roma: i convocati

Stagione 2010 -2011-5^ giornata girone di ritorno

FC Internazionale-As roma
Stadio “Giuseppe Meazza”

Domenica 6 febbraio 2011 ore 20.45
Arbitro : sig. Tagliavento


Bertagnoli
Borriello
Brighi
Burdisso G.
Burdisso N.
Cassetti
Castellini
De Rossi
Doni
Greco
Juan
Lobont
Loria
Menez
Perrotta
Riise
Rosi
Simplicio
Taddei
Vucinic

[romawi]

So no Totti.

[maro]

Totti has a fever, chewna, and so misses the game.

[Yeeppa]

hi guys, i'm new here !

[romawi]

Welcome. How did you find this place?

[Yeeppa]

from google, searching info about Di Benedetto

are you italian ?

[maro]

I'm quite glad the club didn't buy anyone in January, Lupa - I don't think the squad needs reinforcing in any tinkering sense. of course if there were top-quality players available they would strengthen us, but that's not the sort of business that tends to get done in January. Inter and Rube needed to add because those squads were in a bad place. Milan are a bit different, but most of the January signings all around have been emergency signings.

[maro]

Welcome Yeeppa. There are a few Italiani among our ranks here. What's your story - are you a Roman?

[Lupa]

[maro]

I know, Lupa, but we have a very evenly balanced squad already. Sure a bit more quality would be appreciated - a top-drawer fullback, say - but I'd quite like to see Ranieri make the most of the resources we already have at the club. I'd rather see more from Menez and Vooch, Pizza in the fold, Mexes leading the line, Riise returning to form, than any injection of new faces.

[Lupa]

What the heck is going on with Pizza anyway? I'm wondering if he could somehow make some of our combos work better than they have. (I'm thinking of Totti's difficulties up front)

[maro]

Who knows. I do miss him, though. Something in one or two of the stories earlier in the week suggested he was expected to be back in full training next week and perhaps in line for selection. I don't know that he fits all that naturally into the 4-3-1-2, so it will be interesting to see what Claudi tries. I wouldn't be surprised to see a bit more of the 4-2-3-1, with Menez and Voocrh down the flanks, if Pizza does force his way back into the reckoning. If nothing else, he certainly makes us a nicer side to watch.

[maro]

So, the papers have it that it will be a 4-3-1-2, with Taddei in the midfield and Menez behind Vooch and Borriello. Given Sphincter's strengths and troubles at fullback I wouldn't be surprised to see it, in fact, as a 4-2-3-1, or a 4-3-3, with Vooch trying to force Maicon back or to take advantage if he does get forward and with Menez running at whoever Sphincter throw in at left back. It depends, of course, on where Menez plays and where Claudio wants us to attack these cnuts.

[ASR1927]

Here are the predicted lineups for today from all the Italian papers.

IL MESSAGGERO
INTER (4-3-1-2): 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 15 Ranocchia, 2 Cordoba, 4 Zanetti; 14 Kharja, 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso; 10 Sneijder; 9 Eto´o, 7 Pazzini. In panchina: 12 Castellazzi, 23 Materazzi, 55 Nagatomo, 20 Obi, 29 Coutinho, 22 Milito, 27 Pandev. All. Leonardo
ROMA (4-3-1-2): 27 Julio Sergio; 77 Cassetti, 29 N.Burdisso, 4 Juan, 17 Riise; 11 Taddei, 16 De Rossi, 30 Simplicio; 20 Perrotta; 22 Borriello, 9 Vucinic. In panchina: 32 Doni, 87 Rosi, 25 G.Burdisso, 3 Castellini, 33 Brighi, 23 Greco, 94 Menez. All. Ranieri.


LA GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT
INTER (4-3-1-2): 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 15 Ranocchia, 2 Cordoba, 4 Zanetti; 14 Kharja, 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso; 10 Sneijder; 9 Eto´o, 7 Pazzini. In panchina: 12 Castellazzi, 23 Materazzi, 55 Nagatomo, 20 Obi, 29 Coutinho, 22 Milito, 27 Pandev. All. Leonardo
ROMA (4-3-1-2): 27 Julio Sergio; 77 Cassetti, 29 N.Burdisso, 4 Juan, 17 Riise; 11 Taddei, 16 De Rossi, 30 Simplicio; 20 Perrotta; 22 Borriello, 9 Vucinic. In panchina: 32 Doni, 87 Rosi, 25 G.Burdisso, 3 Castellini, 33 Brighi, 23 Greco, 94 Menez. All. Ranieri.


IL CORRIERE DELLO SPORT
INTER (4-3-1-2): 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 15 Ranocchia, 2 Cordoba, 4 Zanetti; 14 Kharja, 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso; 10 Sneijder; 9 Eto´o, 7 Pazzini. In panchina: 12 Castellazzi, 23 Materazzi, 55 Nagatomo, 20 Obi, 29 Coutinho, 22 Milito, 27 Pandev. All.: Leonardo
ROMA (4-3-1-2): 27 Julio Sergio; 77 Cassetti, 29 N.Burdisso, 4 Juan, 17 Riise; 11 Taddei, 16 De Rossi, 20 Perrotta; 94 Menez; 22 Borriello, 9 Vucinic. In panchina: 32 Doni, 87 Rosi, 25 G.Burdisso, 3 Castellini, 33 Brighi, 23 Greco, 30 Simplicio. All. Ranieri.

IL ROMANISTA
INTER (4-3-1-2): 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 15 Ranocchia, 2 Cordoba, 4 Zanetti; 14 Kharja, 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso; 10 Sneijder; 9 Eto´o, 7 Pazzini. In panchina: 12 Castellazzi, 23 Materazzi, 55 Nagatomo, 20 Obi, 29 Coutinho, 22 Milito, 27 Pandev. All. Leonardo
ROMA (4-1-4-1): 27 Julio Sergio; 77 Cassetti, 29 N.Burdisso, 4 Juan, 17 Riise; 16 De Rossi; 11 Taddei, 30 Simplicio, 20 Perrotta, 9 Vucinic; 22 Borriello. In panchina: 32 Doni, 87 Rosi, 25 G.Burdisso, 3 Castellini, 33 Brighi, 23 Greco, 94 Menez. All. Ranieri.


IL TEMPO
INTER (4-3-1-2): 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 15 Ranocchia, 2 Cordoba, 55 Nagatomo; 4 Zanetti, 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso; 10 Sneijder; 9 Eto´o, 7 Pazzini. In panchina: 12 Castellazzi, 23 Materazzi, 14 Kharja, 20 Obi, 29 Coutinho, 22 Milito, 27 Pandev. All. Leonardo
ROMA (4-3-1-2): 27 Julio Sergio; 77 Cassetti, 29 N.Burdisso, 4 Juan, 17 Riise; 11 Taddei, 16 De Rossi, 20 Perrotta; 87 Menez; 22 Borriello, 9 Vucinic. In panchina: 32 Doni, 87 Rosi, 25 G.Burdisso, 3 Castellini, 33 Brighi, 23 Greco, 94 Menez. All. Ranieri.

Welcome Yeeppa.

[maro]

I suppose if he starts all of Menez, Vooch, and Borriello it doesn't leave Claudio anywhere to go if we do need to chase the game; still, if Menez is fit - which is forzaroma's starting point - then surely he's got to play, not simply given the form he's been in, but also because we'll be without Totti and Pizza and because Sphincter are a team which, as a whole, is short of pace through midfield and the defence.

[ASR1927]

True Tom Menez needs to start. I do worry though who Claudio can go to as a "super sub" later in the game to run at their defenders when they are tiring if all three start. Should be one hell of a match though.

[RomaShield27]

Welcome to the forums, Yeeppa. Hope you find more info about Di Benedetto. I don't know what to think about it all, to be honest. It all seems surreal and part of me is expecting to see a statement from someone (everyone) denying anything (everything) is done, putting us back to uncertainty again. I also still have major concerns over Di Benedetto's involvement in the holding company that owns the 'scum:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-0 ... ate1-.html
http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/Aki/Englis ... 08662.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/s ... index.html?

I think its fair to say most people would like to see Menez play tonight. He certainly looks like the logical choice if he's fully fit and would be a statement of intent and what we hope to get from this game. Which is why Ranieri will probably go with Perrotta. Inter will be a bit weaker without Chivu and with either Nagatomo or Zanetti at left-back – so it would be nice to have Menez attack that down the right alright – but they also have Sneijder back for his first start in quite a while and so Raneri may want an extra body in midfield. Mexes is a huge loss and I love his influence in games like this, but we can win this tonight if we believe enough and if we attack them fuckers with the magica that we know we can.