THE WOLF'S DEN - Tana dei Lupi II

[romawi]

I actually don't remember that, but it certainly makes sense. It's a bit strange because, unless you really paid attention, I don't think most people would spot Perrotta's contributions in holding up the ball or in the general link up play. Those contributions were easy to over look, and I kind of forgot about them. As for Florenzi, I was think more of his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball. He'd be able to get beyond Totti or Dzeko, but also be able to help out when we lose possession and need him to track back and help cover. I don't know if he'd be good enough to contribute to holding up the ball and the link up play in the way Spalletti would ask, but I would love to see Spalletti try and find out. Whether he's asked to play out wide or through the the middle, I hope Spalletti finds him a role where he'll be able to contribute regularly.

[maro]

Spags will find him a role. I'd say he'd need to bulk up to play in the middle and that might compromise his pace, so I'd be a bit surprised if that's what the future has in store for him, though on the face of it you'd think he'd be the perfect yo-yo in the middle of the pitch and he'd certainly squander fewer chances than Simone used to. It will be interesting to see what happens when (if?) Strootman is back in the mix. I have been expecting to see DDR being linked with a move back to CB but there hasn't been too much of that yet.

[maro]

Rassegna Stampa Roma La Repubblica
Spalletti studia il nuovo Ninja. Digne: “Io resto qui”

Poco da salvare del lavoro fatto da Garcia. Un giudizio impietoso, forse, ma sincero per riuscire a ripartire in un campionato che non può aspettare i giallorossi. E qualche certezza Luciano comincia lentamente ad averla
di Redazione, @forzaroma 21/01/2016, 09:03

Difficile stabilire l’impatto del lavoro tattico di Spalletti sui giocatori e difficile capire la percentuale di coinvolgimento che i movimenti impartiti in questi giorni avranno poi in partita; è questa la riflessione che compare sull’edizione odierna de La Repubblica. A pochi giorni dalla sfida contro la Juve il tecnico toscano è costretto ad azzerare le convinzioni fin qui avute dai singoli. Poco da salvare del lavoro fatto da Garcia. Un giudizio impietoso, forse, ma sincero. E qualche certezza Luciano comincia lentamente ad averla.

Studia la squadra attraverso i video, Spalletti è arrivato a una conclusione: Nainggolan sarà la vera chiave di volta del suo nuovo 4-2-3-1. Il centrocampista ha stupito molto il nuovo allenatore, per dinamismo, come trequartista, perché è capace di fare il pressing alto sul primo portatore di palla avversario (stile Perrotta) e ha i giusti tempi di inserimento, che lo portano a ritrovarsi facilmente alle spalle della difesa. Spalletti è convinto che in questa posizione, Nainggolan potrà andare in doppia cifra come realizzazioni. E si sta lavorando tanto anche sul gioco in verticale per dare palla a Dzeko, scavalcando la difesa avversaria.

[maro]

That seems to me right, I think - that Spags will try to get a lot out of Niggernoolan in that role. A bit more talk about DDR in the middle of a back three, but not insistent talk yet. I suspect the return of Stroots (if/when) may be a watershed.

[maro]

Ah, nostalgia - it's not what it used to be.
http://www.calciomercato.com/news/che-f ... e-a-780076

[RomaShield27]

I don't know if Spalletti will revive the team's fortunes, but he's momentarily revived this thread. I just hope it doesn't all end in tears.

Well said Lupa. But something tells me it will. Why hasn't Spalletti won us the Champions League yet?

[RomaShield27]

The return of Spalletti still seems surreal in many ways. Like its not really happening. Like he's only an imposter, some homeless git with a beard they pulled off the street and told to work wonders. I missed his first game last week (though watched it later), which obviously didn't go to plan, but the expectation of his return and what he could do is unrealistic to expect at such an early stage. And then there's Juventus. Away to Juventus. A rampant Juventus. But still, Rubentus. In true Spalletti style, he may surprise us all with a big result, before being whipped by Carpi.

I don't believe this 3 at the back business for a second. Well, maybe I do, but not until I actually see it. We don't have the personal in the back line for it, and not at the expense of an attacking midfielder. Plus, its Spalletti. Trying to implement his philosophy is a hard enough task in such a short space of time, especially after the fragile state he picked up the team in, and it would only confuse matters even more mixing it up again.

Still, the positioning of players is fascinating. Florenzi has to be on the wing, I think, his energy and movement will be vital there to create space, with Ninja in the centre, although you have to wonder about his technical ability and finishing, in particular. And can Pjanic do it in the regista role? Its always been said he's perfect for there, and you can see why with his ability, but I wonder about his mental fortitude there to get on the ball all the time and dominate and dictate the play the way he has too. Too often he's found wanting. Maybe he's still learning. Maybe Totti will set him straight with that dinner. And then there's Dzeko. The prima punta which Spalletti was crying out for for so many years, and here is one, a proven goal-scorer, a dominant striker in his mitts. Gervinho has to be a goner, he'd run into the wall Spalletti would confuse him so much (don't quite know where El Shar fits), while the return of Strooman (hopefully) will be fascinating. So many options, so many variables, its very feckin exciting.

[romawi]

So, the rumors of Spal going with three at the back against Juve have picked up steam over the last few days, Tom. Most sites have us going with that projected lineup. I hope both DDR and Florenzi do well in their adjusted roles, particularly DDR as I don't remember him playing all that well whenever he's been played as a CB.

On another note, anyone know the situation on Totti? I read something that suggested that he still isn't fully fit which may explain why he didn't come off the bench against Verona, but reports were also saying that he was fit before the Verona match. I hope we get to see him at least come off the bench today. It's been a long time since we've seen him play.

[maro]

Spags is back:

Gli attaccanti stanno iniziando a capire quando venire incontro e andare ad attaccare la profondità.
Quella è una caratteristica che gli attaccanti devono avere, avere la curiosità di vedere cosa c’è dietro la linea difensiva. Salah per il momento non è molto curioso. Stasera gli ho chiesto anche un lavoro di copertura. Partire da laggiù e poi andare a sforare dietro la linea difensiva non è facile, stasera sono stati molto bravi entrambi.

Can you imagine anyone other than Spags giving that response?

And so the back three, eh, Chewna? What a weird hybrid of a thing it is, though, with, say, Ruediger as one wing-back and El Sharaaaaawy as the other? Gyomber AND Palmieri getting a run, Niggernoolan giving away a penalty and getting sent off. And still we manage to squeak a win - sometimes what one really needs at the crucial time is a big dollop of luck. It will be interesting to see quite this result comes to have meant by the end of the season.

[maro]

Ah, where is our old friend edge_ for us to wind up with this one?
http://www.forzaroma.info/news-as-roma/ ... nico-mido/

[maro]

Populusque would have a field day.

[romawi]

And so the back three, eh, Chewna? What a weird hybrid of a thing it is, though, with, say, Ruediger as one wing-back and El Sharaaaaawy as the other? Gyomber AND Palmieri getting a run, Niggernoolan giving away a penalty and getting sent off. And still we manage to squeak a win - sometimes what one really needs at the crucial time is a big dollop of luck. It will be interesting to see quite this result comes to have meant by the end of the season.

Yup, it's a pretty strange system, but I don't think Spalletti is done trying figure out how he wants this team to lineup. We've certainly been lucky and it's nice seeing this team manage to hold on to result rather than collapse like we usually do.

Totti's gotten himself into a bit of a mess with his latest statements, and Spalletti dropped him from the squad for today's match. Seems like they probably haven't settled their differences, and if that's the case, then it's hard to see Totti sticking around for another season.

[maro]

Yeah, this Totti stuff is pretty damn ugly. Just when I was starting to get lured back in to show a bit more interest in the team.

In terms of formation, I'd say the closest thing to a shape settling in is the 4-1-4-1 which I guess we're sure to see more of for a bit with DDR out again. Pretty good performances the last two, I thought. I had been quite looking forward to this evening - and crossing fingers that the kids might let me catch a bit of the game. Now the Totti shadow has rather clouded all that.

[romawi]

The thing is Spalletti actually said yesterday that Totti could well start this match. Then Totti makes those statements, and he's sort of forced Spalletti's hand here. It's really too bad because I was really looking forward to seeing him play again. The team is very different when he's playing and the football is much more enjoyable to watch.

The last two performances were quite good. I thought we were a bit unlucky not to come away with anything against Madrid, as we played better than I had expected us to. A better performance from Salah and we might have seen a couple of goals for us. Hopefully, we'll see another good performance today, but like you've mentioned, the Totti situation has already taken away from my anticipation for the match.

[DavidP]

what a mess, spalletti has seriously fucked up. in the cameo against frosinone, totti did more in 10 minutes than anyone else in 90. as maro noted in the shitebox, the entire team changed when he came on, a lot like strootman's return in the 2-2 derby last season. it wasn't just because of the confidence boost to the boys either, but the way totti can hold up the ball and create chances. it is still extraordinary and exactly what we need for the final 20 minutes of the game when we tend to collapse. i am guessing his exclusion was much more political than tactial. certainly totti shouldn't have made anything public, especially after he was said to start the next match, but you can hardly blame him for being upset and spalletti should have seen this coming a mile away. disastrous handling of the situation and not much more of a rosy start to his second spell.

[RomaShield27]

Its a disaster of a situation. I don't think any blame can really be put on Spalletti (talk of protests and boos against him tonight are ridiculous), the situation was rather forced upon him. After reading Mazzone's comments I wonder if perhaps Spalletti could've dealt with it a little differently and just not played Totti, as in was it necessary to drop him from the squad? But still, I can't put any blame on him for doing it like he did. If its any other player done it the same thing happens, and worse. Totti has never been the most diplomatic of people, he's always talked from the heart and perhaps not the head, its part of why we all love him, yet we all know he's said and done things a captain probably shouldn't. He still has a big role to play but he can't be starting every game at his age, yet speaking to the media like this wasn't good, especially when it looked like he was going to play. Its just a disaster for all involved.

[maro]

Siamo all’epilogo della de- romanizzazione, rimangono solo i colori anche se abbiamo giocato una partita di Champions in grigio e nero. Bruno Conti se non avrà un ruolo che lo soddisfa – e mi sembra difficile – penso anche lui andrà via.. non può fare il capo osservatore,

[maro]

Spags isn't making Garcia look like a very good manager, is he? A string of victories, great, but a pattern of play, organisation in defence and ideas going forward. Empoli played some good football in the second half - but the first five minutes of the second half from our lot were remarkable. I'm not sure I like the way Spags is going about trying to pick a fight with just about everyone and stamp his authority on everything, but the way the boys are playing (even just the way Digne and El Sharaaaaaaaaaaaawy continually linked up down the left) is showing just how bereft of 'gioco' the Garcia version was. Organisation, ideas, collective play - we hadn't seen any of that for a year.

[DCGweez]

Tough days for those who advocated to keep Garcia....Ed . He's always the last one to call for someone's head. You old softy you.

[Italiamia]

If it were up to Edzo, Zeman would still be coach and Roma would be in Serie B.