A Trek To Calcio’s Chateau d’If
By: chris | February 15th, 2008
Apologies for not getting this out sooner. Real world stuff, ya know.
Juventus v Roma
I have not forgotten. I don’t think anyone has forgotten. It’s just been swept under the rug for the moment. With all the hullabaloo surrounding Inter’s recent shenanigans, Juventus has been able to quietly sit back with their hands behind their back, whistling softly and eyes sliding from side to side. Everyone’s focused on the new Juve, rather than the old Juve. But let’s not forget: they’re still vile, dirty, cheating bastards. They’re still the criminals, and The Other Olimpico is still calcio’s resident penitentiary.
As I’m sure y’all remember, the last game went (relatively) splendidly until the ref decided to hand Juve an early Christmas gift with that throw in late in the game. Juve “earned” an undeserved draw despite being beaten from pillar to post throughout the entire game. As Claudio Ranieri keeps mentioning, Roma has a “little something extra”, hence he performance. (Of course, that little something extra isn’t finishing, which they failed to do in the tie - I realize I’m becoming a broken record, sadly.) So now would be a wonderful time to exact some revenge against the jailhouse bastardi.
Despite the recent suckitude Roma has displayed against the resident cellar dwellers, everybody knows Roma shows up for the big boys. Therefore, the performances against Palermo, Siena and Reggina were their way of resting up for the forthcoming onslaught of everything plus calcio’s kitchen sink. Hell, this run may even be a good thing, serving as a swift boot in the ass. Please?
Last League Five
Roma: WWWLW
Juventus: DDWDW
Juve hasn’t been playing their best footy as of late either. They’ve played two similar Serie A opponents recently, Catania and Sampdoria:
Catania:
Juve: 1-1
Roma: 2-0
Sampdoria:
Juve: 0-0
Roma: 2-0
Doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but it’s clear Juve hasn’t been playing their best against opponents Roma handled easily. So that’s nice going in.
Squads
Roma:
9 MIRKO VUCINIC
10 FRANCESCO TOTTI
18 MAURO ESPOSITO
30 MANCINI ALESSANDRO FAIOLHE AMANTINO
7 DAVID MARCELO CORTES PIZARRO
8 ALBERTO AQUILANI
11 RODRIGO FERRANTE TADDEI
14 LUDOVIC GIULY
16 DANIELE DE ROSSI
20 SIMONE PERROTTA
33 MATTEO BRIGHI
2 CHRISTIAN PANUCCI
3 CICERO JOAO DE CEZARE (CICINHO)
4 JUAN SILVEIRA DOS SANTOS
5 PHILIPPE MEXES
15 VITORINO GABRIEL PACHECO ANTUNES
21 MATTEO FERRARI
22 MAX TONETTO
77 MARCO CASSETTI
25 CARLO ZOTTI
27 JULIO SERGIO BERTAGNOLI
32 DONIEBER ALEXANDER MARANGON (DONI)
Juventus:
1 Buffon
2 Birindelli
3 Chiellini
5 Zebina
6 Zanetti
7 Salihamidzic
8 Camoranesi
9 Iaquinta
10 Del Piero
11 Nedved
12 Belardi
17 Trezeguet
20 Palladino
21 Grygera
22 Sissoko
23 Nocerino
25 Stendardo
28 Molinaro
30 Tiago
33 Legrottaglie
Key Injuries
Juan and Pizarro are still “knocked”. I’d say the former is unlikely to play and the latter has a much better chance - though I suspect we’ll see neither. Gilu Curci is proving it would have been completely useless to send him out on loan. Kid’s cursed.
Mauro Camoranesi is supposed to be out but he’s on the list so, uh, your guess is as good as mine. Methinks he’ll be left in the stands. Jorge Andrade is still realizing he did a stupid, stupid thing by signing with Juve, aka Bad Karma.
Probable XIs
Doni;
Cassetti, Panucci, Mexes, Tonetto;
DDR, Aquilani;
Taddei, Perrotta, Mancini;
Totti.
I’ll admit I’ve been a little out of the Roman loop, so I have no idea what’s going on with Matteo Ferrari and the CB spot. I suspect the back line revolves around that. In the midfield I doubt Spal will risk his Valentine, David, if he’s not 100%. They need every body possible for the upcoming run of calcio hell (II). And of course, Alberto is decent for a “substitute”. Ludovicious in the middle? Possible as well. Basically: watch the spine of the formation. Things could change.
Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuubentus:
Buffon;
Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro;
Palladino, Nocerino, Zanetti, Nedved;
Trezeguet, Del Piero.
Feel free to rotate that lineup around completely.
Key Matchups
Philippe Mexes v Pavel Nedved: Last time around they were really cordial, which was hugely disappointing for me. I was hoping Philou’s boot would fly so far up Pavel’s ass it gave him indigestion. I’m not sure this is so much a “matchup” as something to watch, but yeah, I love it when these two tango.
Juve’s Home Mentality v Roma’s Big Game Mentality: The Giallorossi get up for big games (most of the time), which means many have dreaded the Siena and Reggina games more than this one (alright, a few - I’m one). Juventus, however, have made their home self damn near impenetrable. Four goals allowed in 11 games at home. (How the @#$% they pulled that off with some of those disgusting back lines they’ve thrown out this year is well beyond comprehension.) Roma has to want to win this one baaaad. I suspect they do. (I always do.)
Mancini v Juve’s Left Flank: Zebina, despite the fact that Roma won a scudetto as soon as he arrived, never scares me - and that’s me being overly polite. Salihamsandwich? Ditto. In summation: Juve is overmatched on the left wing. Amantino has scored big goals in big games before, it’s time for some of his magic again.
Pre-Winter Break Totti v Post-Winter Break Totti: Even if we’re just counting goals, it’s clear Francesco hasn’t been as productive as he was before the break. (Not that he’s human or anything.) His impact just hasn’t been of the same level. Totti hitting on optimal makes this team nigh unstoppable. Hopefully he’s just been keeping it in the tank for the upcoming run, and Saturday will be a little reminder of who the best player in calcio is. (And it is NOT Del Piero.)
Good v Evil: Whatever craptastic piece of journalistic toilet paper wrote up that Juve deserves to be in first place due to refereeing errors has a seriously short memory. If, and that’s a big if, Juve has been at the wrong end of calls this year (I haven’t seen enough of them to comment), then fuckin’ good. Great, in fact. Fanfuckingtabulous. Let’s start slapping a little harder on their wrists after that joke of a one year punishment they were handed down in the dungeons.
I don’t care if Roma gets a Juve/Inter type call this game and wins only on that merit. If so, fuckin’ good. It’s about time reparations are being paid - and no, I don’t consider gifted throw-ins (illegal ones) to be “reparations”. Lady Luck should be on Roma’s side for this one. Maybe that’s all they’ll need.
Last Game
Game Recap
Predictions
Score: 2-1 Roma
Goals: Mancini (24), Palladino (30), Totti (68)
MOTM: Jesus
Rosso: Nedved (51)
When: 2030 CET, 1430 EST
Where: The Other Olimpico, Turin
Forecast: 6°C, Clear.
Streaming: Here.
FORZA ROMA
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Comments
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JCS, I like that lineup. We all know it will never happen under Spal though. Barca is getting manhandled right now by Zaragoza. When we get by Madrid the field is wide open, it could very well be a Roma-Inter final.
Posted from
United States
-
Ordeal u cannot have so many changes for the next match.
Tonetto dropped ? who is gonna cross ? U dont expect casetti to throw in the crosses from the left , thats not his position.
Secondly , u cannot play Pizzaro with Derossi , it Kills Daniel’s Game. Derossi has to fuking worry abt pizzaro all the time.Cici,Pizzaro,Guily on the right ? and u Think Guti aint gonna fuk them up eh ?
Posted from
United States -
11 million well spent on a bench player who can’t get a game? For Real or Milan it does not matter they have so much money.
You think Roma can afford to do that?
11 million would have been better spent on a top attacker.
You know, one that would actually play on the field.
Posted from
United States -
JCS, Pizza’s first half was diabolical today, though it’s true that everything constructive was going through him at the beginning of the second half. He relies on runners, of course, and with Max/Cassetti/Spags running scared of Rube’s tridente he was, for me, almost inguardabile in that first half.
Posted from
United States -
JCS, don’t underestimate Baptista, he is a key player for them. Very, very complete player. Big strong player who can beat ppl with skill, pace and then get back and defend all in the same breath.
Posted from
United States -
We don’t need crossing from the left. We need to shut down and Cassetti is a better defender than Tonetto 7 days of the week and twice on sundays. Tonetto is a winger turned fullback.
Guti will be marked by De Rossi all match, no danger.
Posted from
United States -
Baptista would WALK into Roma, he’s a beast.
Actually, he is THE beast.
Another botched transfer.
Posted from
United States -
Maro, I completely agree
Ricci, you are right, that is why I love Baptista and would love him at Roma to get challenge PErrotta for his spot but I don’t think he has the defensive abilities tom completely take Pizarro out of the game like Diarra would
Posted from
El Salvador -
This is what we will be facing:
Diarra - Gago
——Guti—–
Raul - Ruud - Robbenor possibly
Gago - Guti
—Baptista—-
Raul - Ruud - RobbenPosted from
United States -
tor is right, Tonetto is not playing well and i’d prefer to have Cassetti over him, De rossi can cover for the right side and you can move Aquilani for Pizarro i you want more defense ont hat side, or you can play perrotta there too, just not as trequartista
Posted from
El Salvador -
Channel 4:
These are all elements missing from Roma recently and Spalletti confessed his team deserved defeat tonight.
“In the first half we didn’t do enough. We were too rusty in interpreting situations and creating play. We went better after the break, but clearly still less than we could have done.”
There were a surprising number of mistakes in midfield with David Pizarro particularly disappointing.
“We were slow in making our choices and couldn’t see where there was space and where it was densely populated,” continued Spalletti.
“We cannot allow this kind of an advantage to talented players like those at Juve. Maybe the players were a little distracted because they looked at the calendar and know they have only one chance in the Champions League, whereas in Serie A there is time to recover.”
It was hardly the best way to lead in to next week’s clash with Real Madrid, although the Spaniards also lost this evening 2-1 at Betis Seville.
“I am not celebrating their defeat, especially as they conceded both goals in the air and we are better playing ball to feet. The tactic we use will depend on the approach Real take.”
Posted from
United States -
Ratings from Goal:
Juventus
Buffon - 6.5: Decision-making was perfect as always, and he made one excellent stop from De Rossi’s thunderbolt of a free-kick.
Zebina – 7.5: Zebina’s best performance in a Juventus shirt for quite sometime. Was a rock at the back.
Legrottaglie – 6.5: Clumsily turned the ball onto his own post in the first half but was a commanding presence after the break.
Chiellini - 6.5: Like Legrottaglie, Chiellini stood firm to withstand the Roma onslaught after the interval.
Molinaro – 5.0: Positionally Molinaro is quite simply awful. Repeatedly went AWOL to gift the likes of Cassetti and Giuly acres of space. Cicinho would have eaten Molinaro alive in the second half if he had played.
Camoranesi - 7.0: Camoranesi’s importance to this team can be seen if you look at the gulf of difference between Juventus’s first and second half performances. Was sorely missed after going off at the break.
Zanetti – 6.0: Not one of Zanetti’s better games. Was completely outclassed by De Rossi.
Nedved - 8.5: Another superb display by the Bionic Man. At the age of 35 his energy and workrate is astonishing. Won the free-kick for Del Piero’s goal.
Iaquinta – 6.5: Ran himself into the ground and was unlucky not to score before the break after being denied by a wonderful Doni save.
Trezeguet - 5.5: Another rather anonymous display from Trezeguet, although he did create Iaquinta’s chance with a neat cross.
Del Piero - 8.0: The Golden Boy was back on form, taking on opponents and scoring a simply unstoppable free-kick to earn his side victory.
Substitutes: Nocerino – 5.0, Sissoko – 6.5, Palladino – NA
Roma
Doni – 7.0: Made one brilliant stop from Iaquinta. You could argue that he shouldn’t have been beaten at the post he was covering for Del Piero’s goal, but such was the power of the shot that this would be a harsh analysis.
Cassetti - 6.5: Largely sound display by Cassetti, who defended and attacked well. Exploited the space left to him by Molinaro.
Ferrari - 6.5: The ex-Everton defender usually makes at least one mistake a game but not tonight. Never put a foot wrong.
Mexes - 6.0: Was caught out on a number of occasions, and it was his foul that led to the free-kick for Del Piero’s goal. Too easily wound up, as demonstrated with his ongoing spat with Nedved.
Tonetto – 5.5: Sloppy at times, gave away possession needlessly.
De Rossi - 9.0: A class act. Mirrored Cambiasso’s display for Inter earlier in the day. If De Rossi can consistently reproduce performances such as these what a monster of a player he is going to be.
Pizarro – 6.0: Tale of two halves for the Peruvian. Dreadful in the first, giving away possession in the build-up to the foul for Del Piero’s free-kick. After the break was excellent and was surprisingly replaced when Roma were dominating.
Taddei – 5.5: Not one of Taddei’s better games. Never really got into the match.
Mancini – 6.0: Similar analysis for Mancini as Taddei, although the ex-Venezia man fared slightly better.
Perrotta – 6.5: Typical hardworking display from Perrotta, who fired one first-half effort over and made a number of dangerous forward runs.
Totti - 4.0: What has happened to the great Totti? He has been so poor in recent weeks. The saying is that, in theory, Roma don’t play with a centre-forward due to their unique style of play. Well with Totti in this form, they really aren’t playing with a centre forward, in the quite literal sense.
Substitutes: Giuly - 6, Aquilani - 6, Esposito - NA
Posted from
United States -
reading the reviews, Perrotta did not have as bad off a game as the other attackers. Maybe Totti needs to sit one game down
Posted from
El Salvador -
Aquilani should have started the game first big mistake, and once again seriously why is cici playing when he shows up every game spalletti puts him in, i just dont get it.. De Rossi played brilliantly
Posted from
United States -
i meant why is cicihno playing**
Posted from
United States -
and i think its about time you play a dual striker with totti and vuci or have totti play CAM and support Vuci…. anybody agree??
Posted from
United States -
No. Totti is overweight, slow, has no fitness, and his workrate is nonexistant. He can’t move, he doesn’t run enough to play CAM.
Vucinic is as poor a finiusher as you will ever see at a club of Roma’s size. As for the others, he’d be 5 ST at Juve, 10th at Inter haha, 6th at Milan, even 4th or 5th at Lazio. Wouldn’t play a minute at Palermo over Miccoli, Cavani or Amauri. Wouldn’t play a second of football at La Viola over their STs.
The less Mirko plays the better for Roma.
Posted from
United States -
Tor is right, i think we have seen the last of Totti as trequartista and he forever play a striker as long as Spall is in the club. He really needs to find new inspiration, it is like he has been playing just for filling out the roster and has not given even 75% in the last games
Posted from
El Salvador -
I do like Vucinic but he will not start scoring on a regular base without having regular time on the pitch.
Posted from
United States -
See his goal tally in the league in games started.
He’s had his chance. He’s not good enough.
Posted from
United States -
a really bad day…
11 points behind…I think the very first mistake was the starting lineup, Spal should have thought it over.
Period.Posted from
Taiwan -
11 points behind who?
You mean 1 point ahead for 2nd.
Inter was always on a different level.
Again, people, you cannot make up a 20 point difference by singing Ludo Guily and the like.
Posted from
United States -
I have a feeling I should get down on my knees
Posted from
United States -
I’d rather have Vuci starting over Totti at this point. When Totti is healthy/fit/in form there’s no question who to choose but not now. At least Vuci brings some pace and can make space and separate himself from defenders. Totti has looked almost as old as ADP these last few games which is worrying. Something has to be wrong b/c he looked insane whenever he played in the first half.
Posted from
United States -
1. Inter is no longer in Serie A. They are in Serie A +1 No one else is in this league at the moment. It will be interesting to see if the 2007-08 scudetto winners can make a run in Europe, or choke as is the nerazzurri protocol on the international stage.
2. Luciano Spalleti looks like Imothep from those mummy movies. He should be kicked in the balz for having Roma play limp defensive football, contrary to their whole mentality and usual approach, against Juve in the 1st half. It cost us, finally, with the Del Piero strike.
3. Roma’s new effort sadly must be geared at scrapping for second place and the automatic place in CL group stages.
4. Totti should be benched, at least temporarily. Il Capitano’s legend is secured, but his injury and then his bouts of flu this year have made him worse than useless. He is a liablity. Ilary, buy your husband some feckin’ cough syrup already.
5. Roma should also play for the Coppa as if it were the CL crown. Let’s face it, it’s very unlikely we will get past Madrid and we are not winning the league. IF we want hardware, we got to go after the Coppa. Back to back cup triumphs would be a consolation of sorts.
6. RIP Roma: This was the year to win the scudetto. Juve and Milan are in the rebuilding/transistion phase. Inter was catchable if only we’d added a true striker and a defender during the transfer window. But we sat on our hands and, as usual, will be a lovable loser — that plucky, attacking, dynamic side that nevertheless sheetz away the gold.
Oh well.
Forza ROMA for the COPPA!Posted from
United States
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