VotD: The Legend of Mirko Vucinic

mirko gives me hope

haha i also have an essay due tomorrow but need a little break... I think our man of the match is going to be Mancini and there's is going to be Rooney, guy works pretty hard

Its 3am here. I'd better try to get some sleep now.

"- Find your Gattuso within.
- Chase Man Utd players as if they stole your cell phone"

LOL LOL LOL!!

If only Pizzaro could play like in that Milan match, then I might be the first one to say 'start him!'. But I know he rarely put that kind of performance.

Tips: surprise MU with some bullet kicks. Totti actually did that in Old Trafford but his shot went wide with Van Der Sar completely beaten. And De Rossi's goal was also a surprise shot.

And keep watching Milan 3 - MU 0.

Nice Gabs, what about (Scarface) . .

"you got really good chit here mayn"

I am also extremely bored with an essay I'm writing. Actually, perhaps not as much bored as disillusioned with how poorly it's going. I'll say AA (with two long range goals) and VDS (because Man U won't even get a single clear chance) ;)

ok, im getting bored with an essay i am having to write. so, need some distractions--predictions on the MOTMs for Roma and ManU tomorrow? (Hoping of course tht the MOTM for ManU is the only positive for them, but they still lose big).
I'm going to go with:
Roma: DDR
ManU: Evra

I won't be able to sleep much so still here.

and now it is less than 20 hours to go. I am off to bed

Good night everyone

Tried to make girls watch Roma, Scarface and Goodfellas, didnt work. Eh eh

ohh and this one
"You think you can take me? You need a fucking army if you gonna take me!"Aww,

"Alex, we had some problems you know, your man he wouldn't listen to me so I had to cancel his fucking contract. "

I love Scarface lines:

"You wanna fuck with me? Okay. You wanna play rough? Okay. Say hello to my little friend! "

"I'm Tony Montana! You fuck with me, you fuckin' with the best! "

"Why don't you try sticking your head up your ass? See if it fits. "

"All I got in this world is my word and my balls. And I don't break 'em for nobody!"

lol... this one is great: "Alberto is an expert in the disposal business. "

ah ah that's even better one of my favourites

cannot agree, Chico. I dont really like the soft approach

Let's have some of this!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

And a bit of the usual Al Pacino would help too. Im sure someone else has already circulated this speech here.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

And by the inner Gattuso, we mean inner Gattuso c.a. 2006, not c.a 2008.

Kistajk > I think many fans and punters think that we need to choose between the two otherwise we may not get any silverware at all.

Totti said he's priority is the CL and if we get through MU somehow maybe we have a shot to get to the final.

I put a combined bet on us winning both before the send leg of Real when we were 9 point off 1st place. I only put £1.00 on it as I never bet big (I have an addictive personality but under control) ... anyhow I'd get £160.00 return if it actually happens

"Find your Gattuso within." --lol.
We'd all do well to be in touch with our inner Gattuso for this one.

Bashar,
To make me feel better, here's my strategic suggestions too:

- One full back at a time can go forward, Cicinho preferably as Panucci can shift easily for RB position

- Mexes & Panucci work on anticipation only when 100% sure they get the ball (that's how Rooney scored at OT, Juan leaving position)

- Use Aquilani and Taddei for closing down emergency spaces and making tactical fouls if needed, until yellow card.

- Ask Mancini not to pretend to come back, but to actually get back to win the ball back or do something.

- Try both pressing high as a team or sitting down deep, possibly alternate the two approaches to confuse Man Utd and decide when to slow down tempo.

- Watch Milan-Man Utd 3-0 couple of times

- Hit the target often, even from far, to test VanEarSar and to get the crowd as loud as possible.

Less serious (but equally effective in my opinion):

- Think that C.Ronaldo is just a kid and Rooney is just an ugly kid and treat them so.

- Find your Gattuso within.

- Chase Man Utd players as if they stole your cell phone

- Think of what happens in Rome if you go through beating Man utd

Should be enough to start the game.

might even have*

We also know about Totti's ambitions when it comes to playing at Old Trafford, so having him out of the Olimpico clash, and rested for the return, will hopefully allow him to run rampant in England. He might even the game of his life (please, please, please).

I agree to an extent Gabriella. For one thing, sometimes Totti disappears in these big matches. For another, the team could really galvanize around each other and step up as they will know it's all on them, rather than looking to Totti to pull off the brilliance.

Let me rephrase. is Spal likely to start with Guily when totti is not around?

I dont think anyone knows the starting line up, SGM

I suppose not having Totti may even turn out to be an advantage in disguise if we can surprise MU with a tweaked tactics that they are not prepared for

Mancini and Taddei better work hard and look inspired. They sometimes drift out of matches for no apparent reason, and this wud the worst time to do tht. Is GUily definitely not starting?

Guily may be our secret weapon ... although I always thought that is Pit :)

Nani didn't travel.

My worry is there wingers... NANI and C. Ronaldo... that is pace right there gents... we need to start cici to keep up with there wingers... I kind of hope Espo gets some playing time, he is fast and can run with the ball.. we could almost miz it up and throw 2 strikers at them with mirko and Espo

I don't think Ferugson will under-estimate Roma. He's too experienced for that. They themselves got thrashed in Italy last year by both Milan (and to a less extent Roma) so they are well aware of the dangers. Man Utd seem to play Spalletti's 4-5-1 in Europe but without Nani and with Giggs a minor doubt Tevez might play on the left.

That lineup is very similar to Real Madrid's against us. The difference is that they are stronger in the center of defense and in attack. Ferdinand and Vidic are in much better form than Cannavaro and Pepe and Anderson is also better than Guti from what I hear.

While I rate Hargreaves highly, he and Carrick might not be as good as Diarra/Gago, but Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez are better than Robinho/Robben, Raul and Baptista.

I think the key is keeping our full backs in defense and not go too crazy. I don't want to see Tonetto overlapping with Mancini. I also don't want to see Mexes taking over Totti's duties. That should be as good a chance as any of controlling their attacks.

DDR and Aquilani need to dominate Hargreaves, Anderson and/or Carrick and dictate the pace of the game. Then dammit Guily, Mancini and Vucinic should finish. If Mancini can give their fullbacks a nightmare of a game we could keep them on the back foot. Taddei needs to start because we need him to work his socks off with Perrotta out.

I basically named everyone but in conclusion:
1. Defense stays back
2. DDR/Aquilani need to control the tempo
3. Finishing, finishing, finishing
4. The wingers need to work their socks off to get Man Utd to play a little deeper

Quietly confident is exactly what I am feeling. Roma fans r not in a position to be too exuberantly confident since ppl r throwing the 7-1 at our faces like there is no tomorrow-- but I think we all see it for what it is-- a freak result.

I said before that MU is now same as Milan for us. We played them and Spal probably figured them out by now. I am excited but quietly confident about this match

I am just somehow not expecting Roma to face the biggest problem from CR. They should shut him down a few times and make him feel unloved and unwanted by the roman girls and Mexes-- and he is likely to forget to track back and defend. Rooney is unpredictable (which sometimes translates to indisciplined in moving too much)-- so Mexes and co definitely need to keep a close eye on him.

and yes, about the world's two ugliest strikers-- I think Shrek sued them for stealing his style without a license agreement.

Baldini, the Catania coach just quit

DDR is a yellow away from suspension and we dont want that. Aquilani have dealt with C Ronaldo well previously, remember?

Hmm. Given how desperately fergie wants the UCL this year (UCL being the only blemish on his acheivements with ManU), and like an annoucer said--"he wants it so bad, he can smell it"-- what he might avoid the most is conceding early. The fans and british press may only talk about the 7-1, but SAF should be smart enough to remember the other games like 2-1, 1-1, 1-0 where Roma showed enough attacking flair. I do not find the MU mid-field to be very impressive n creative, so first half may be more defensive from ManU.

I wonder if SAF starts both Tevez and Rooney. My impression is he's still savoring that 7-1 whooping and believes our defense is soft and ripe for the taking. If so, he might push forward the attack with the world's two ugliest strykers, figuring his best defense is a strong offense and assuming that Vidic and Rio-I-am-England-hear-me-roar can fend off our Tottiless attack.

I am not sure if fergie will start with both rooney and tevez at the olimpico. It may be just rooney upfront, and maybe sub in tevez in the 2nd half. He will play a more defensive line than in the league. One thing tht Roma has gotto do is keep their wide players attacking-- just going thru the middle is not likely to succeed with Rio and Vidic. But they seem more vulnerable against crosses from wide. (Btw, if Vuci can cut thru the middle like Kaka last yr and score, I will officially die of happiness). Added bonus is to keep their winger than CR on their toes by attacking flanks.

Anyone want to talk strategy? What's the approach to containing their attack?
I don't think we can glue DDR to Ronaldo because that will open up the middle for Rooney and Tevez to run right at our Juan-less defense.
I'm looking for Aquilani to step up and have a big match defensively. I'd rather see him winning hard challenges on 50/50 balls than skying rifle blast shots into the 15th row, as has been his want of late.

Oh, also another similarity b/w MU and Inter--- referees seem to wear their shirts at least 90% of the time!

I see some similarities b/w ManU and Inter, except for Inter being mentally very fragile while ManU is not. While watching Serie A and EPL, one thing that annoys me abt both these teams (and their respective coaches) is the fact that they r sore losers, and show no sportsmanship. They have no grace in defeat, and blame everything/everyone but themselves-- like ref was against us etc. (So, CR7 is a poster boy for what ManU represents in more than just their attacking play.) They have money to burn and huge squads, so always have an upper hand. However, they do not necessarily confront teams that aggressively attack them, and can cave. They play well for their manager, but do not seem to have the same passion for the club as some players in say roma, juve, madrid, barca etc. I agree with those who say that Roma is not consistent enough to grind out results-- but for similar reasons that drive this weakness, Roma are also a team than can barnstorm a cup competition like Champions League. (which does not require as much consistency as the league)

One more thing.. How many times have Inter gotten help by a ref to grind out a result in a game they had no business winning have won.

Imagine we were given an extra penalty or help from the refs in a few games like Inter was. Say for example that help allowed us to beat Lazio, Inter and Cagliari. Tied Juve, beaten Livorno and Torino. Say we take those 6 games (Inter also had help in around 6). We're talking about 13 points. Hell, even if we tied Lazio it would be 11 points and we would be 14 points clear of Inter at the top of the table.

I don't want to win that way though.. But I don't think Inter deserve to win if they can't finish more than 10 points clear at the top.

Forza Roma.

I'm gutted Totti isn't playing.

I'm sure he feels sick too.

I have a feeling Spalletti and Ancellotti will super sub next season.

I hope not, but I think that's what will happen.

I think one key thing in this match-up is going to be when ManYoo is in bad form, they are mediocre, but they never are really ripped apart. When Roma goes down...they can go down hard. I think you guys are a different team from last year/ 4-1 Inter loss this year...but Roma doesn't seem like a psychologically strong team. (Which may cause what I said earlier)

I'm very much pulling for you guys to win though. I dislike the EPL and ManYoo, and one of my best friend's is a psycho ManYoo fan and has been for years...and I'd like to see nothing better than Roma 1-2 United.....and then Roma 7-1 United.

less than 24 hours!!!

Alessio.. I wasn't entirely disagreeing with you.. We can grind out results but not as consistently as United, Chelsea, Inter, Liverpool, etc... We showed against Real Madrid that we can do that, same with Milan, against Empoli with 10 men, etc...

Juve winning the scudetto? They are 11 points behind Inter with a game in hand. Meaning that (given you beat Parma which is most likely), Inter will need to drop 3 games. It's possible but not likely. You can dream but we're all likely to be disappointed if we dream too much.

Anyway.. Nani and Saha stayed back in England while Carrick is doubtful to start despite traveling. The rest of their squad is complete. We on the other hand are missing 3 starters. Painful.. One person was saying how lucky United is usually, and it seems like it's true.

So it seems only Perrotta misses tomorrow's game for a one-game suspension. I thought Tonetto was out too, oh well I feel better now!

http://www.uefa.com/competitio...

However Tonetto, Cicinho, Vucinic, DDR and Cassetti are all one booking away from suspension. Which means nobody can touch C.Ronaldo in Rome except the pronstitute tonight.

Bashar, Gabriella...You might have checked to see that I know that Juve has virtually no chance of winning the scudetto this year. I think the 5% chance that statistics website gives us is generous Like I said in the article, I fully expect Roma to beat us to it. But I can dream, can't I?

That said, I stand by my comments on Roma, and I think all but the most blind Romanistas would agree. Roma plays beautiful football and they are probably the team I enjoy watching the most (outside of Juve, of course) in Italy. That said, in general, Roma seems incapable of grinding out results when they have to, or can't maintain a narrow lead, which I think is critical to a championship winning team, to win some games ugly.

They start calling him "captain future" in the uefa.com site too!

http://www.uefa.com/competitio...

Daje Danielino spacca tutto.

Vucinic Tells Roma: You Can Rely On Me

from goal.com

Mirko Vucinic has promised that he can be trusted to fill in for the injured Francesco Totti against Manchester United tomorrow night.

The Giallorossi were dealt a massive blow ahead of the Champions League quarter final first leg at the Stadio Olimpico, when talisman Totti was ruled out with a thigh injury.

His replacement up-front will be Montenegrin hitman Mirko Vucinic, who has been in stunning form himself recently, scoring winners against both Real Madrid and AC Milan.

"Physically, I don't have any problems," Vucinic stated.

"We've got a chance for revenge [for last season’s 7-1 defeat].

"I'm happy to be able to play against the team that scored seven goals against us last year.

"When you play big games against prestigious opponents, it's tough not to go out onto the field focused 100 percent."

Vucinic actually has an admirer in Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and there are rumours flying about that the Scotsman is preparing a bid for the striker in the summer.

The 24-year-old is co-owned by Roma along with Lecce, although the Giallorossi have first option to buy the other player’s half at the end of the season.

Alessio Alexis

http://goal.com/en-us/Articolo...

Yep, Vuci does seem to handle pressure well in big matches. (Unlike some swedish primadonnas).

I don't think those videos do a good job of conveying exactly how good Vucinic can be. It doesn't show him toying with Pepe or Guti, or pissing all over Maicon to set up a goal. He does have a knack for getting crucial goals which is what we need.

I would not put it past Spaletti if he pulled a Capello, this season or next. We've seen it happen before, and talk is very cheap. Hypothetically, just to paint the picture let's say it happens this year . . . Imagine having 100MM Euro to play with (adidas contract) and world class players to build around, & if Mexes and perhaps Aquilani can be plucked in the silly season, then it's par for the course, then there is only the 35mm Euro for Gomez, and bring back Boriello back from Genoa... & there you have it, a team on paper that can contend for the Scudetto, and CL spoils (the following year of course)

If Roma are aggressive in the first 20-30 mins, United will go a bit weak in the knees. For those of us who keep merging the ManU in EPL with the ManU that show up in europe-- please look at their history. They have won the UCL only once in the last 10-15 yrs, in spite of their dominance in the league. In the league they r an all-out attack against poor defending, and do not do the same in europe whr they r more conservative. Good Roma's toughest opponent is Bad Roma: they have destiny in their own hands.

Cazzano... I hope you are right.. I know they don't play well away, but they always score.. Especially when they are in this kind of form. A clean sheet is most welcome..

Our players seem to be up for this and Vucinic is confident that Roma can rely on him.

United will fold I assure you. They are wildly skilled, lavishly assembled, ooze attacking verve, but they are not a fighting team on the road, which is why they've been DIRE under Ferguson for 20 years nothing but 1 lucky moment in decades of embarrasing failure on the biggest stage. VDS is the single reason we didn't score 10 on them 1st leg.

Roma will win tomorrow and the world will be stunned at the hiding we administer them.

Yeah, even too kind.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/...

I think De Rossi is kind to C Ronaldo

The way this fixture is shaping up I'll be semi-pleased if we avoid another hiding. Sorry to be a downer. But it's not looking good.
On the other hand, maybe the boys will rally around each other in the absence of the captain and a genuine defender -- other than Mexes -- and we'll play a gem.
anyhoo. Forza Roma.

If you look at everything coming out of the English police, Ferguson, etc... They are warning United fans to listen to the Italian police and not go causing trouble. If anything happens it'll probably be to a group of rambunctious fans who are asking for trouble. I hope nothing happens though.. Not cuz our place in Europe is in jeopardy but because football should be about the game.. not the violence.

I really hope there will not be any crowd problems

http://football.guardian.co.uk...

As for Alessio's comment... He's got a point, but it's hard for any team win win 8 games in a row (which is what we needed).. Now we need 7 wins in a row. Most of the "easy" teams we play away plus Udinese and Samp away, making it more tricky. We find it hard to break down teams with 10 men behind the ball.

We also lost the derby which is more dropped points but with the derby anything can happen. Anything is possible but if Inter don't drop points against Fiorentina and Milan we have no chance of doing anything, even if we win 7 in a row with 3-0 scorelines.

It's pretty strange how there is an all English semi-final but the Roma - United game is getting more press than all 4 of those games combined. It's like there is only 1 game that people care about (Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal fans aside). Even the English media seem to have ignored the Liverpool - Arsenal game for now.

KJ.. I still stand by my comment. I'm not pretending to know.. It's my opinion and I stand by it (fickle or not).

The players have never said or done anything to make me think that they are at the club because of Spalletti. They sign for Roma to play with Totti, or the great city, or the great attacking football or the fellow Brazilians. If he jumps ship, I don't think that they will all try to jump ship after him, especially not Mexes.

At Chelsea it was obvious (even before Mourinho got fired) that they loved him too much. At Porto also. When Spalletti left Udinese, the players were still fond of him, but Pizarro went to Inter first, Iaquinta went to Udinese and Di Natale isn't really losing any sleep over the fact that he isn't with Spalletti. Whenever he gets linked with us he kept saying how he likes Roma, not how he wants to play for Spalletti.

I'm not blasting Spalletti, and I don't want him to leave at all..

I wonder if any players' home will get burgled tomorrow night.

well I was kind to Allessio and posted the schedule with all 3 teams. I dont think J?uve has a shot at the scudetto but they can dream and so can we. Allessio is a nice guy and he can post whatever he wants on their site. As long as he doesnt come here bashing Roma disrespectfully I am fine with it frankly speaking.

Also, i have startd my own Italian football forum. Would love if all you guys could come and join - http://www.insearchoffootball....

Ciao

Does anyone know which hotel is Man Utd staying.

I know a gorgeous escort in Rome, I could ask her to pop by to catch C.Ronaldo's attention. Im sure he'll be up for it even if his gangabang buddy Nani is not there.

If Van der Sar is in net all Roma has to do is shot to his left side, that is his major weakness.

This has to be a 2-1 win, it doesn't seem we can win with a different scoreline.

When he came to Roma, Spalletti said that he wanted to be for Roma what Ferguson and Wenger are to Man Utd and Arsenal. Since then the team has grown from strength to strength, so he has no reason to leave.

That said, he did screw Udinese to come over here so nothing is for granted. If he does go we'll just get Ancelotti. I doubt Mexes would follow Spalletti. The players are in love with the club first, the coach second. Unlike Mourinho. (Except DP, but they can have him.)

Even last year, he was under a lot of stick from Roma supporters but he got 2 starts in Serie A and got a goal in each (1-0 v Siena), (0-2 @ Catania) plus he got the winner against Man Utd.

Misses a lot at times, but is a clutch player. I hope he steps up tomorrow because we really missed him against Cagliari.

Any win with no away goals will give us the advantage. An away goal will make things very tough. 0-0 wouldn't be the end of the world either as we showed earlier this year that we can get a draw at Old Trafford. 2-0 would be perfect for me. 1-0 would be huge. However being realistic, it's hard to see them not scoring.. Ferrari is going to be the death of me.

Matches and titles are won with courage and confidence. A far inferior US hockey team beat an absolutely great USSR team and ultimately won at the Lake Placid Olympics. Beating ManU is child's play by comparison.

Chill out guys! 2-0 (VuciGOL and Aquilani).

Drama is no Tonetto, no Juan, no Perrotta, no Capitano.

Drama is Cassetti vs C.Ronaldo.

I'm hoping in a draw, 0-0 please

that was real drama, this is just soap opera drama ;)

Hey I prefer this to a few years ago when we had 59 managers in 5 months.

all the drama!
This is pure Roma! Typical

First of all Spalletti did meet and had dinner with Berlusconi and Galliani, and Bronzetti, that was confirmed. Yes one day he will leave probably, but certainly not next year or the year after even. Read Bronzetti's interview with Il Romanista before 2nd leg in Madrid.

NO JUANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!

ANTUNES Gabriel
AQUILANI Alberto
BERTAGNOLI J.Sergio
BRIGHI Matteo
CASSETTI Marco
CICINHO
CURCI Gianluca
DE ROSSI Daniele
DONI
ESPOSITO Mauro
FERRARI Matteo
GIULY Ludovic
MANCINI Alessandro
MEXES Philippe
PANUCCI Christian
PIZARRO David
TADDEI Rodrigo
TONETTO Max
VUCINIC Mirko

And that's posted from Sydney,Australia.Forza Roma!

Is it me or does this 'suggestion' by 'sources'about a meeting between Spalletti and Milan directors over Easter,seem laughable at best.I mean come on.I just don't see it!Maybe it's just the bad timing...

Yeah right he cant go and definately cant take Mexes!

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is being linked with Carlo Ancelotti's job at crisis club AC Milan.
Gazzetta dello Sport says sources suggest a meeting was held in Tuscany between Spalletti and Milan directors Adriano Galliani and Ariedo Braida over Easter.

Spalletti is said to have indicated a willingness to move to Milan next season and also urged Galliani to sign Philippe Mexes.

Fuck

http://www.ilmessaggero.it/art...

But he had fever also before Madrid, and he was the best.

Provisional squad that flew to Italia:

Van der Sar, Evra, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Brown, Ronaldo, Anderson, Rooney, Giggs, Park, Vidic, Carrick, Scholes, Pique, O’Shea, Silvestre, Kuszczak, Tevez, Eagles, Heaton, Welbeck

I love Mirko, always have

this is the real time for Vuci shows us his worth...
I'm really worry about the upcoming match, I hope Roma will not going down this time...at least at home, and then there will be a time for Totti to humiliate them at old trafoot.

and I hope no stabbing incident this time, official batton (only) is still acceptable if the travelling hooligans try to create any mess.

Mirko is crazy!

I'm glad he's getting more playing time, although I do wish it was under better circumstances. (I like the fact that he can work with Il Capitano.)

Now with these injuries Mirko has suddenly become the single most important for the club since Amadei lol!

A Legend in the making for sure.
I hope they buy out the remainder of his contract from Lecce. He has missed a lot of sitters this season but then the goals he has scored have been beautiful.

Pure skill.