One More Time Against The Tuscans

By: chris | April 18th, 2008

Roma v Livorno

And here it is, game number eight versus a Tuscan side this season. As devastating as the trips to The Poobah’s home have been (that much ballyhooed “Curse of Tuscany” rearing its ugly head), its been equally as delightful to host that rascals.

In Tuscany:

Fior 2-2
Empoli 2-2
Livorno 1-1
Siena 0-3

Hosting Tuscany:

Siena 2-0
Fior 1-0
Empoli 2-1

Here’s to hoping the trend continues.

Aside from superstitions and black magic and tomfoolery and all that jazz, I’m not looking forward to this game one bit. It wasn’t simply the fact that Roma was in its most dreaded province the last time around or that the Armando Picchi had been declared a state of emergency with water levels higher than New Orleans during Katrina (also making it yet another occasion Totti has walked on water); it was mostly that Livorno countered Spalletti’s men well and fully deserved their point. If you recall, they eschewed the team bus in favor of hauling the team plane onto the pitch and they parked that SuperBus in front of the goal for nearly the entire game, having no less than 37 men in their own box at the same time. And now we get to see their away tactics. Nice. Have they called in the Italian navy for this one?

It’s hard to score with that much space closed down and that many angles nullified, but it’s a doubly as hard when the guy between the sticks is pretty damn good. Goal-a-game saver. I believe this is the one game where everyone was bemoaning the lack of a tall striker who can rise above the defense and get on the other end of a cross instead of watching Ludovic “I’m A Grownass Man And I Still Can’t Get On Amusement Rides” Giuly fail to outleap a cricket. Still no tall striker, still searching for someone besides Grumpy Old Man River to leap into a cross regularly (and Rodrigo Taddei’s face).

Hopefully this time Roma will have a better time stretching the defense and working up some chances, because as with every game from here on out: must win. The good news is Livorno is not in the midst of a fantastic run as they were the last time around, but actually putting for a bounty of suckitude. They’re the calcio caboose and they haven’t won eight games, and they scored their last victory in hosting Catania. You know, the drunken sorority chick. So I’m not even sure that counts. Before that? January 20th v Empoli. Yikes. Pray for Marco’s sanity.

Of course, a draw is still a loss at this point. But if the Udinese game was any indication, Roma is up for the challenge and will get done what needs to be done. Pray for the continuing demolition of all things Toscana at home.

Last Domestic Five

Roma: WDWWW

Livorno: DLDLL

Squads

Roma:

ANTUNES Gabriel
BERTAGNOLI J.Sergio
BRIGHI Matteo
CICINHO
CURCI Gianluca
DE ROSSI Daniele
DONI
ESPOSITO Mauro
GIULY Ludovic
JUAN
MANCINI Alessandro
MEXES Philippe
PANUCCI Christian
PERROTTA Simone
PIZARRO David
TADDEI Rodrigo
TONETTO Max
TOTTI Francesco
VUCINIC Mirko

Livorno:

Key Injuries

King Berto still has pain, Marco Cassetti is still nursing his pitching shoulder and Mirko Vucinic was called up, but has an ankle injury. Looks like he’ll only be called in under dire circumstances - if at all.

Probable XIs

Roma:

Doni;
Cicinho, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto;
DDR, Pizaman;
Taddei, Perrotta, Mancini;
Totti.

Convinced on everything but the back line.

Livorno:

Amelia;
Grandoni, Knezevic, Galante;
Pulzetti, Vidigal, De Vezze, Bergvold, Pasquale;
Diamanti, Tavano.

Coin-flipperage.

Key Matchups

Roma v The Homeless Man’s Antonio Cassano.: Everybody had a good look at Alessandro Diamanti this year? Livorno doesn’t have a ton going forward, but Diamintia is a talented creative forward with a lethal left foot, a left foot which he likes to use and can use from wherever.

Ludovic Giuly v Simone Perrotta: Let’s call a spade a spade, Ludovicious, for all his heart and desire, couldn’t bulldoze through a six foot tall stack of cotton candy, much less a team plane. They sure as hell could’ve used Simone against Livorno last time, they’ll be lucky to have a bit of his physical stature this time.

Game/ Everything

The mid-week Coppa class proved no different, even though Ciro Polito looked mighty decent at times: Roma’s finishing suuuuuuuuuuucks. First of all, Roma is going to get chances aplenty on Saturday, and that’s me being conservative (I personally think they’re going to walk over, around and through Livorno all day). The problem is, of course, they can’t even get their shots in places where the goalkeeper can attempt to miss them, much less actually miss them. They steamrolled Cagliari and Catania, and walked away with 2 goals in 2 games.

And guess who doesn’t play for Catania or Cagliari? Marco Amelia. Yeah, he’s pretty good. His start to the season wasn’t tremendous by any stretch, but he appears to have come on lately, and he damn sure stopped Roma the last time they went around. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this game worries me more than Milan or Inter or Udinese. Actually, maybe you can - check out these stats from the game in Tuscany:

Livorno Roma
Time of Possession 28% 72%
Shots (on Goal) 16(9) 20(6)

Exactly.

Francesco Totti was absolutely brilliant against Udinese and Catania at times, but Roma couldn’t make use of his service (I’m looking at you, Amantino). Somebody, anybody has got to take advantage this game. They can pepper Amelia all day long, but unless they get some clinical finishing, it’s going to be useless.

Add that to the fact that they have Mirko still nursing and injury and………I’ve been more confident going into a game. Despite being confident that Roma can walk through them. But just not get the job done. Does that make sense? Ah well.

Last Game