Finally, someone who Prade might actually *hear* has spoken, and the good news is that he agrees with us:

“If we want to compete with Inter, Milan and Juventus, we need at least two more important players. At the moment, we are the fourth strongest in Serie A.”

“I like Baptista and hope he does come to Roma, but we need another reinforcement after that.”

So says Il Capitano. But is Prade listening? Who knows? What we do know is that Prade is in Madrid, presumably to negotiate Baptista’s move (and maybe that of Reyes as well), but if you listen Prade, he’ll tell you that he’s in no rush.

For that, I can think of only one response: No rush Prade? Perhaps you should look at the calendar and see what the other squads have done to date.

Well, at least he’s in Madrid. That’s a step, right? As far as what he’s doing there, I have mixed feelings; on one hand, the terms of the Baptista signing sound fairly reasonable, although I’d definitely prefer the loan option over the outright purchase. The Reyes deal, however, has me a bit nervous. I mean… 8 million euros? (La Gazzetta or Corriere dello Sport – I forget which – also mention that figure.) Here’s my stance on that: If Atletico Madrid spent a truckload of cash to pay for a guy who didn’t produce a goal in 26 matches, it was their mistake, so they should have to pay for it – NOT ROMA. I say either Reyes comes at a bargain (i.e. under 4.5 million euros), or he doesn’t come at all. Of course… my name isn’t Daniele Prade, and nor is it Rosella Sensi.

So, with the rumored Reyes move potentially being a rip-off (yeah, I just said that), are there any alternatives? Well, Channel 4 has linked our beloved Giallorossi with one Mario Alberto Santana, whom I would jump for (over Reyes) in half of a heartbeat. On top of being far from hanging up his boots at 26 years of age, Santana has steadily improved throughout his career, and would hopefully come cheaper than Reyes. Most importantly, word has it he would find it “difficult to turn down Roma.” Does anybody want to pitch in with me to cover Prade’s ticket from Madrid to Firenze?

Totti in Blue (I’m serious this time.)

Moving past the calciomercato stuff for a moment, did anyone see the rest of Totti’s comments? It appears as though Il Capitano may be willing to bend on one past decision (Azzurri), but not another (Poulsen).

Regarding the former, here’s what was said:

“With Lippi I have a great relationship. I hear from him often. I also complimented him when he returned as I was happy for him. We have talked about the future and Lippi asked me how my rehabilitation is going.”

“If I’m well and I don’t have problems, it will be possible to address this issue in six months or a year.”

Alright. Now, I know that ever since Lippi’s return, the press has been all over Totti regarding the Nazionale, and until now, I thought that the “anything can happen” statements were basically just ways to say “never say never,” which makes sense to me. However, the “address this issue in six months to a year” stuff is totally different, I think. Specifically, the mention of a time frame indicates that Totti has actually put some thought into a return. Add to that the fact that he’s apparently in regular contact with Lippi, and maybe we WILL see Il Capitano in blue again.

Hmmm… A 33 year-old on a World Cup squad? It wouldn’t be the first time…

So what do we know at this point anyway? Not friggin’ much, to be honest.

While we’re waiting for news to break, here’s a quick rundown to kill some time:

• We’re day two post-Mutufest, and Baptista is still *the* target, it would seem. At the time of my last post, La Gazzetta was speculating that The Beast’s price could drop from 15 million euros to 12 million, but now there’s talk of a loan once again. I’m not sure where they’re getting their info, but Corriere dello Sport is talking about three million euros for a year, followed by a full transfer for 10 million euros at the end of the term. I say do it. Then, buy us an Italian.
  

• Speaking of buying an Italian, if anybody was thinking that Borriello was still a possibility, you might want to cross him off of your list at this point. First off, Galliani says that Marco’s staying. Second, his agent is spewing pro-dinho propaganda implying that the Brazilian’s introduction is great news for Borriello. Even though these agents can double-talk with the best of ‘em, I don’t think he’d spin it like that if he felt that there was any chance his man would do a 180 and run for the door.

• Given my strong feelings on the Azzurri – Bleus rivalry, I’ll admit that generally speaking, I’m not a huge fan of France or its players. That said, I’ll also admit that I’ve come to greatly appreciate Roma’s ambassadors from France – Mexes and Giuly. Unfortunately, it sounds like one of them is just about out the door, with just minor loose ends (like signing a piece of paper) left to tie up before he bolts to PSG in a 3 million euro deal. Apparently, the impetus for this move boils down to a lack of playing time, and if that’s the case, I really can’t blame the guy. You have to admit; with the exception of his little goalkeeper impersonation, he showed some real quality. While I’m sad to see him go, I sincerely hope it works out for him.

• Still no signature from Aquilani? I don’t really have any doubts regarding Aquilani signing eventually, but it really does put the icing on the (very stale) cake; Bronzetti says Trigoria is working 24 hours a day, and I can see why. They’re doing last month’s work now, along with this month’s. Meanwhile, other teams – who have been busier, mind you – are wrapping up their transfer periods, and Roma still have a key contract without a signature and at least one… maybe two major signings to put together. To top it all off, it looks like Rosina’s plea is falling upon deaf ears… well… almost. (I think Mr. Watson must’ve been eavesdropping on us.)

Ah.. well… I think this weekend’s gonna be big. Beastly, even.

Well, to be honest, I’m kind of tired of it. (Shocker, I know.)

So, while we’re waiting for Prade to… I don’t know… DO SOMETHING, I’ve decided to mix up the mercato monotony with something that has a little more substance. Specifically, I want to talk about someone who our beloved Giallorossi have actually signed. To that end, I’ve asked Brian Morse, a buddy of mine who is no stranger to blogging / writing about sports *and* who happens to be a longtime Liverpool supporter (Yes, I am friends with one of those…) to introduce us to John Arne Riise, Roma’s new 6′1″ left back. So anyway, please enjoy what Brian has put together, and if you post some feedback or questions in the comments section, he might just stop in and reply!

I wanted to name my first son John Arne, but my wife wouldn’t have it. That shows you what I think of the Norwegian as a footballer. After over 200 appearances for Liverpool, he no longer fit into Rafa’s masterplan, and I must say Roma are lucky to have him.

He began his career at the age of 18 with his hometown club of Aaselund in Norway, before moving to Monaco after one year of senior football. He spent three years with the French giant before a £4,000,000 transfer to Liverpool in 2001. While at Liverpool the red head (who is apparently anxious about getting his be-freckled skin burnt in the Roman sun) quickly became a fan favorite scoring 10 goals for the club during his debut season at left back. He scored 11 more goals for Liverpool during his time at the club, mostly coming courtesy of his devastatingly powerful left foot.

During his stint with Liverpool, Riise was a favorite of mine for his work rate and tenacity both on and off the pitch. He wasn’t afraid to call out club legend Jamie Carragher for saying LFC was out of the title race midway through the last campaign. Roma’s supporters will love a guy who offered up this quote to the English press in response, “We never give up. Cowards give up.” Riise also somewhat infamously had a bust-up involving golf clubs, Craig Bellamy, and copious amounts of alcohol during training for a match vs Barcelona in 2007. Both combatants ended up on the score sheet in Liverpool’s famous Champions League win.

Riise is one of those players whose name you don’t often see in the match reports and his goal production has dropped off in recent years, but that is not his true value. He has a non-stop motor on the field, never shies away from a hard tackle, and certainly isn’t afraid to get in someone’s face. With over 70 caps for his national side and over 70 appearances in European Cup play, Roma are getting a player with undeniable pedigree. Anyone who has appeared in as many important Champions League matches as Riise, should be a welcome addition to even the most prestigious of clubs.

-Brian Morse

I have to say, out of Roma’s few signings during this transfer season, I like Riise the best, despite his distinct lack of Italianness. (If “Italianness” wasn’t a word a minute ago, it is now.) First off, he has big huge game experience, as Brian pointed out, and I think that will go a long way toward preventing a defensive breakdown like we saw during that ugly stint last campaign. Second, I appreciate a player who’s not afraid to put some artillery fire on goal from no man’s land. Third… well… have you seen this guy’s free kicks?

This next one includes what might just be the best thing I’ve ever heard an American soccer announcer say (not that that’s such a great accomplishment) :

A Kraken Giallorosso? I’m all in.

-

Mutu = No

Baptista = Well, now that you mention it…

• OK, so Mutu is pretty much out. Finally. It’s not that he’s not a good player (’cause he is)… it’s that this went on longer than Cheers.
• And of course, immediately after Mutu pledged his career to Fiorentina (and even just before) Baptista’s name is in the spotlight… not that we didn’t see this coming. The Baptista rumors have been picking up steam since the weekend, and now his agent is implying that the big news could break next Saturday. (By the way, did anybody else not know that Baptista and Cicinho are close amici?)
• Speaking of Baptista, La Gazzetta seems to think that the price of 15 million euros could drop to around 12, given The Beast’s alleged affinity for the Eternal City. In the same breath, they’re quick to point out that Roma “still think well” of Iaquinta, but I really think he’s out of the picture. I mean… PSG is even being linked with the guy. Come on.
• Finally… and I’m only including this because we’re all screaming for Prade to bring him to us: Toro Coach De Biasi is attempting to placate the situation between Rosina and the team’s management, but there isn’t even a whisper regarding anyone taking interest in the guy… which is a bit strange, considering the drama.

Hopefully, we’ll get some real news soon.

Here’s the deal: I’m starting out with Mutu, *not* because it’s the biggest news, but because this ongoing drama irks me to no end, and I’d like to get it out of the way. Anyway, I’ll direct this right at the man himself, since we all know that he lurks around The Offside:

Hi Adrian. I’ll cut right to the chase: This “b…bbb…but I was on vacation so I didn’t have time to think about it” act that you’ve been pulling hasn’t fooled anybody. We know that during your holiday, you were on the phone getting advice from *cringe* Chivu, of all people, and it’s likely that you called your agent so much last week that you came back with worn out cell phone keys. At this point, you should be able to put pen to paper somewhere. So what’s it going to be? Are you purple, or are you yellow and red? Please decide soon, as the recent parade of vague statements is getting kind of tired. I mean… your supporters are even starting to sound a little annoyed, and that’s saying a lot, considering their nice-guy image. Thanks in advance for letting us know… soon. Alright, good talk.

Moving right along…

Angry Bull

Has anybody at Torino listened to their most talented, promising player lately?

When the key figure in your squad’s present and future success says things like, “How much longer can I stay at a Torino like this?” or “I don’t want to leave, but I can’t say for sure that I will be a Toro player in September,” it just doesn’t bode well, to put it lightly.

And more importantly, does anybody outside of Turin hear him? Anybody as in… Roma? Seriously, if ever there was a need to make a call, it’s now. Let’s take our eyes off of the purple Romanian for five minutes and get this guy. Please.

Quags & ‘Quinta

Speaking of players that I’d be genuinely excited to see in yellow and red, Corriere is keeping the Quagliarella / Iaquinta dream afloat. Specifically, while they concede that Mutu is “the first choice,” and Di Natale is “the alternative,” (Hey – their words, not mine) they also contend that both Quags and ‘Quinta are still in the running. This of course goes against what the latter player has been saying for a while now, and even recently. That said, despite the fact that he’ll likely be wasted on Juve’s bench for half the season (Think Amauri-Trez-Alex), Iaquinta seems to be totally hypnotized by the prison stripes.

I wish I could say that “on the other hand, Quagliarella is a realistic option,” but the truth is, the Quags rumors are probably just a couple degrees warmer than the ones about ‘Quinta. His agent seems intent upon keeping the door to Roma slightly ajar, saying that Roma has been in continual contact, and that “relations are excellent,” but I tend to think that there’s something in the water at Udine which is keeping that squad’s potent attack intact. And while Corriere points to the price tag as a main factor, the estimated cost of 11-14 million euros isn’t exactly light years beyond the figures being thrown around in talks about other prospects.

Other Stuff

Just a few odds and ends:

• Espo says he’s not going anywhere. I know, I know; we were all losing sleep over that one. (In all seriousness, we’ve hardly even seen this guy, as he only appeared what… seven times last season? The shrink wrap hasn’t even been removed yet.)
• Judging by the incredibly sensationalist headline, Goal.com seems to think that Pavlyuchenko is a no-go, but they don’t really back it up with anything of substance. Actually, all they give us is a FIFA person’s opinion, which is neither here nor there, but Mr. FIFA does at least give us his estimate of Pavlyuchenko’s cost: 10 million euro. (Quags for just a couple million more? Fuhgeddaboutit, Pavly.)
• So, Il Capitano is apparently trying to ready himself for the Supercoppa Italiana, although his trainer seems to be approaching with caution. If I were to bet on it, I’d say that he’ll either skip it altogether, or suit up and play very little, if at all. Speaking of the Supercoppa though…
• It has been rumored that the Supercoppa will be played in the US once again this year, although there’s been no definitive word yet (not that I’ve heard, at least). The match is usually played at the home stadio of the Scudetto winners, although in 1993 and 2003, it was played in the States. Come to think of it, 1993… 2003… 2008? Does anybody know where/how this rumor got started? Regardless, I’ll keep an ear to the ground on this.

Apparently, when asked about the transfer market, he brought up the need for a striker, and in the next breath he extolled the virtues of none other than The Controversial Romanian (TCR) himself, Mr. Mutu. Don’t worry about it too much though; Il Capitano doesn’t even have TCR’s phone number. And besides, back in Firenze, the Viola’s Chairman Della Valle is saying that Mutu’s going to be locked down in just days, while GilaMonster Purple GilaMonster is talking like he and TCR are going to combine up front to form some kind of super-mega-attack-to-end-all-attacks. And you know something? I believe he might be right… but this is the Roma blog, and I digress.

There’s been a bit of doubt cast upon another transfer rumor, only this one may actually disappoint (some) people: Borriello’s agent says that his last contact with the Giallorossi dates back a year. Not exactly promising. That said (as Chris alluded to in his previous post) with Milan (seemingly) looking to buy up strikers on every front, who knows? Still though, the fact that the last contact was a year ago has me thinking that there’s been no “Listen Marco, if they bring in 3 guys to play ahead of you, here’s what the Giallorossi had in mind” conversation. There’s that, PLUS the fact that when the Corriere brought the issue up with Roma’s “managers,” there was apparently something like laughter followed by a stern denial.

Alright, so Mutu and Borriello aren’t completely out of the running, but it sounds like neither rumor is really gaining speed either… but meanwhile, we’re still hearing Baptista – Pavlyucenko – Baptista – Pavlyucenko – Baptista – Pavlyucenko over and over again. Corriere dello Sport in particular makes it sound like one… or maybe even both (with the Brazilian purchased with ManciniBucks, and the Russian on loan) are in the bag, but we know better than that, right?

And it’s a damn good thing that we tifosi DO know better than to trust mercato rumors. Otherwise, we’d take stuff like this and get our hopes up. (Out of respect for Chris’ views, I’m not going to mention the two Italian names mentioned in that Goal.com “article,” but my fellow Roma blog followers probably knew that I’d go there at some point. I’ll leave it at that, and keep on silently hoping.) For now, I’ll shelve the striker talk until we have some concrete news, like TCR signing a new contract with Fiorentina, which I’d expect early in the week – maybe even Monday.

Alright. Before I go, let’s take a *gasp* pause from calciomercato, and get back to Il Capitano for just a second. I’m sure most of the regulars will have seen this by the time I post this up, but like clockwork, the media asked him (again) whether or not an Azzurri return is in the cards, and his response confirmed what we already knew… well… depending on which translation you read. According to some, he said “If something were to happen…” while others translated it as “Anything can happen…” I think the former is the more literal of the two, so that’s what I’m going with, but if anyone’s interested in judging for themselves, the Italian quote is in the first Corriere article linked above.

(By the way, in case anyone’s wondering who I am and what I did to Chris, don’t worry; I’m just covering for him this week.  Hey – It could be worse: we could get news that the Giallorossi have third kits that make them look like bees. )

Adrian Moo Moo

I’m not sure there’s a player in Serie A I dislike more than Adrian Mutu. He’s dirty, he’s whiny, and he’s arrogant with every reason to be excessively humble. His Roman encounters sum it up quite nicely: two elbows in one game. First the elbow to Vucinic that wasn’t caught followed by the bow to the head of Cicinho, earning him him a yellow. Then his declaration that he’s better in the final 20 yards than Francesco Totti…like 3 months after Jesus won the European Golden Boot. What is you stoopid, Adrian? (To be interpreted in a male Rosie Perez tone.) Come on. There’s arrogance and then there’s flat out idiocy; this falls into the category of the latter.

Another joyous Mutu escapade was his little rendezvous with Pablo Escobar’s pixie dust a few years back in London. Not so much the actual cocaine deal but the adult film star who broke a story on his little cocaine/sexy time habits. (Here’s a pic – it’s safe for work, but I can’t confirm whether or not your lunch is safe….plus she’s got a massive gap between her teeth not seen in the picture. Woof.) Listen, nobody is perfect. Marco Borriello is the poster boy for stupid decision making over the last two years, but can you really blame him? (1:35 here) In the case of Mutu….how much cocaine must one huff to not see that heffer coming at you? Gawd. That’s in the all time pantheon of bad decisions – along with Dude, Where’s My Car?, Crystal Pepsi and Zach Braff’s parents not using protection (it’s summer, aka the season to bash Zach Braff).

And where is Adrian right now? Miami. HELLOOOOO. That’s like taking Jacko to a Chuck E. Cheese with a liquor license. Red flags and sirens everywhere.

However, there is not a player on the planet better suited to playing for Roma. No, that is not exaggeration for effect (moi? nevah) or anything of the sort. It’s simply the truth. He is absolutely perfect and starting XI ready the first day he shows up at Trigoria with a bit of fun dip dripping out of his nasal cavity. And that is why he is far and away the first hope of the transfer campaign for The Grand Imperial Poobah. A dick, yes, but a tried and tested Serie A star who would take this team from very good to European contender with the snap of a finger. More than Huntelaar, more than Gomez and more than Julio Baptista.

I’ve had a sneaking suspicion for much of the year Mutu would leave this summer. Fiorentina is a very good up and coming team, but he’s hitting the age where it’s time for two things: that final boffo paycheck and to actually win something. The “titles” with Juventus were whisked away and Chelsea won its first title the year he was banned seven months for his yayscapade. At this point his legacy reads: Cocaine scandal and finally helping la viola reach the Champions League. Not exactly what a player of his capabilities wants to look back on in his old age. And though Fiorentina is rising, they’re still a good bit away from any consideration for serious hardware. Not saying it’s a foregone conclusion, but now’s the time if he’s going anywhere – both for Fiorentina and himself.

To date, Roma is the only team linked with Mutu, which is mildly surprising. With the recent decision by a court that he owes the financially struggling Chelsea €12m (subject to appeal after appeal after appeal), one would at least think the guy is open to ideas and/or wheelbarrows full of cash. Plus Fiorentina is only offering €2m per year, which won’t get it done. Roma, on the other hand, is offering either €2.5m plus substantial bonuses or an above the cap 3m plus.

As for the transfer fee, it’s reported Fiorentina would appreciate a sum of €25m while Roma would rather hover around €20m. In these instances, €5m isn’t as big a gap as it would seem. Certainly an easier deal to complete than, say, €13m v €8m. Both valuations say the same thing: he’s damn good and he’ll cost a ton. And if Spal wants him as badly as I suspect he does, it’ll be worth the entire transfer budget to net Adrian.

Now the big question….does it get done? The best guess for any type of deal like this is typically no, but I’ve long thought this is a possibility, even with the Purple People Eaters nabbing that 4th CL spot. One of their suits said they were confident they would be able to retain his services, but that’s a far cry from being definitive. The tabloids say some indication should be given before the end of the week, until then we wait.

Personally, this is a win-win. If Mutu winds up in Rome I’ll be forced into counseling, but will eventually be able to, with the support of my friends and family, deal with his on the pitch contributions. If not….I can go back to surreptitiously hating Mr. Moo Moo. I don’t want him tainting the giallorosso, but it’s impossible not to recognize he is probably the biggest difference maker available. And now I need a drink.

The Beast

So from what I understand….

• He can be had on loan or for the not so exorbitant sum of 12m
• He’d relish playing in Rome, even if he believes he’ll still be in Spain.
• Wages aren’t an issue.

Uh, do they need me to fly to Madrid and pack his bags for him? I’ve been iffy on Julio before, but he was pretty impressive for much of the year and he brings that finishing school degree to the treq position now that Simone’s dropped out. Brings a bit more of a physical presence to the side, which seems to be a bit of a theme after the year of the Oompa Loompa Brigade, and he can defend as well. Officially sold.

This is a softball lob, even if he’s brought on loan with an option to buy. (Or can we just ship them Mancini? Come on, I’d throw a party for that 12m swap.) Plus he could potentially, if on loan or paired with the right second purchase, be in addition to another premier striker. What’s not to like about these options?

Much like Cicinho last year, this one seems almost inevitable if Real Madrid decides to sell. A high quality player for a very fair valuation? What’s not to like? And I’m sure The Recruiter, Julio Sergio, already has a tricked out pad ready for him in Rome.

* – Speaking of Mancini…I’m trying to avoid sending myself into deep disorientation as was the case with Chivugate, so keeping away from too many details, but I would’ve been perfectly content had he invoked Article 17 after his duck of a season. Anything into double digits is cupcakes and butterflies.

Huntelaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar

Not much has changed. Still wicked expensive for a guy who has done fuck all outside of the defensively deficient Eredivisie. I like him, particularly on a team like Roma where he’ll receive supreme service, but 25m is a ton of cash for a team without a Roman Abramovich type sugardaddy. The smart money says Mario Gomez is both the better (younger, more accomplished despite the recent tournament of turd) and cheaper option should Roma fail in its bid for that Romanian scoombaag. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a YouTuber.

(Kind of hoping for this one simply because the phrase “Klaas is class” would never ever get old.)

In case you missed it, there’s been a flood of news from Australia saying that Harry Kewell to Roma is imminent, and he’ll eschew Valencia for the chance to play in Rome. I can’t comment on the validity or legitimacy of rumors emanating from the Australian press, but for some reason I have to believe it’s more trustworthy than the Italian variety (then again, so isn’t Ms. Cleo).

Socceroos captain Harry Kewell is set to sign for Italian Serie A side AS Roma.

Kewell, in Sydney for Australia’s World Cup qualifying match against China on Sunday, is expected to announce the move shortly according to Fairfax newspapers.

Fairfax reported that Newcastle Jets football director Remo Nogarotto acted as an intermediary to secure the deal.

Which gets more explanation from this (and another source on the deal):

Nogarotto has developed a close relationship with Spalletti, who warmly received Jets coach Gary van Egmond during a fact-finding mission in April, and who is keen to return the favour by visiting Newcastle next year. Spalletti had scheduled a trip to Newcastle early this month, but Roma’s current ownership wrangle forced a postponement. Nogarotto is working on finalising a sister-club arrangement between Roma and the Jets.

So Spal is getting buddy-buddy with everyone in Australia. Fantastic. I love Dunkaroos.

Back to Kewell. First thing’s first, he’s on a free and will not be commanding anywhere near the salary he was earning at Liverpool. A sum which has taken a good amount of ridicule, but most people are forgetting one important thing: at one point, he was among the best left wingers in the world and nearly every club on the planet wanted him. It wasn’t as though he bilked the Reds into paying him that money, he earned it.

Of course, that brings about the great downfall with Kewell: injuries. Harry has suffered a solid number of them over the last few years, and unfortunately, Rafa had made plans to be without him this year and he wasn’t used much after returning from his long layoff. But we’ve seen two players coming off major, and in one case multiple, injuries get through a year in Rome without them in Cicinho and Mauro Esposito. Of course, in Espo’s case it’s a lot easier not to get injured when you’re paying a mortgage on the Olimpico bench – unless we’re talking ass splinters. Perhaps Spalletti & Co. feel he can stay healthy enough.

Whatever the case, this is a gamble worth taking. Why? Free. Oh, and on his day, he just happened to be one of the best and most coveted left wingers on the planet. At Leeds this guy was absolutely electrifying and his Liverpool career started off just as well. It’s difficult enough finding his ability for sale much less waiting for a suitor to come and sweep him off his feet for free. (Have I mentioned he’s on a free?)

At worst, he’s a bust and wastes some payroll, taking over as the Australian Samuel Kuffour, just not as lazy and completely fucking useless. At best he recovers his talent and becomes that pacy, brilliant winger with perhaps the best left foot in the game (Roma seems to be steadily acquiring those, eh?) that took the Premiership by storm. Good technique, speed, finishing and a surprising noggin’ for a winger.

And of course, then there’s his familiarity with John Arne Riise (who I’ve never liked and am struggling to remove from my shit list – will keep you updated between now and the Supercoppa – but will readily admit is a good addition). In fact, after watching a few Kewell highlight vids, I noticed these two connected for goals on numerous occasions. Maybe Spalletti feels these two can recreate the good days on the left?

But what would be expectations? Mirko Vucinic has made the LW spot his own. Now that leaves a backup. Well, enter Kewell if he is healthy. And if he isn’t? Tonetto, Riise, Taddei, Perrotta. They certainly aren’t wanting for options over there in this case. One of the added benefits to this Riise acquisition: versatility. The burden placed on Kewell’s shoulders would be next to none while simultaneously freeing up money for that vaunted big name striker we’ve all been hearing so much about.

I wrote something up last summer about the lack of big game experience on this squad, and how the majority of it had come from international play, mostly, duh, with the Azzurri and ‘06 (and Panucci in his pre-catfight-with-Lippi days). Something which I think wound up in my graveyard of unfinished posts …but it’s the effort that counts, right? Well last summer they brought in Ludovic Giuly, a squad player with European championship pedigree, having played in two finals, taking home the winners medal in one.

Now we have John Arne Riise, champion of Europe and loser of a final. Ditto for Harry Kewell. Am I the only one seeing a pattern here? These are squad players – Riise, and even Kewell I suppose if he joins, may become more – with both ability and experience at the summit of club football, winning and losing. They know what it takes to get it done and what to avoid. For a good, solid team, Roma was missing a lot of know-how. Now they have one champion and potentially another one on the way.

You could do a lot worse than add two squad players – not guys asked to bear the burden of Roma, that’s Totti – with this background. Sometimes these role players with winners’ medals are what makes the difference in the end. We’ve seen it before. We’ll see it again. We may see it with Roma.

Because I think everyone knows what takes place in Rome this spring. For me, this would be a brilliant zero risk, potentially big reward signing. Bring on Kewell.

(Oh, and how would you like signing Australia’s best and most popular player ever to expand the brand?)

Bye bye Matteo, Hello…Uhh…No one.

So it seems like Matteo Ferrari is headed towards Firenze. Good. Fine. Wonderful. I’ll lose no sleep seeing him in another uniform, especially after the year he just had. (I still hate him for his clinical finishing in Cagliari.) And I highly doubt he’s worth the money he was asking from Roma – I think I’ve said that once or thirty-seven times.

Rumor floating around says Roma is looking at Michele Canini of Cagliari….which has been refuted by his agent, saying no one has been in touch. They’re just waiting by the phone, hoping to be called to the prom and all that jazz. Canini is still the guy who Roma supposedly has “first option” on, but who the hells knows anymore, really. Cellino is approaching batshit pazzo, so wait and see. If there is a new CB, he’s certainly a name high up on the list.

Now watch Ferrari re-sign next week.

Mr. Christmas

This is starting to remind me of the Cicinho deal, it’s just that Roma has a much better relationship with Real than they ever will with Pietro Leonardi, and I’m sure the nuckfutter would love nothing more than to send a Spalletti mancrush to Napoli. Toto would probably prefer otherwise – even with Napoli being his hometown, the guy’s not exactly a spring chicken and his chances at Champions League football are dwindling. He will have had a major tournament, likely as a starter, underneath his belt for the Azzurri, but he’s experienced one Champions League group stage, no knockouts, and he’ll be 31 in October.

That said, he probably stays in Udine – they’re doing nice things up there if they can tighten it up a bit.

That @#$%in’ Guy Again

Francesco Modesto is back. This time saying Matteo Brighi could be involved.

i. I don’t doubt the Modesto rumors.
ii. I do doubt the Brighi rumors. Spalletti really seems to appreciate what he brings to the squad, and he fills his role very well, as limited as it may be. They can afford to pick up Modesto – no clue what kind of year he had, but I doubt it was revolutionary – without send Brighi.

And for the love of Buddha, would this guy just feckin’ move somewhere already? He’s been on the block since Zdenek Zeman was running the show. Or at least it seems. Let’s hope we see a LB ASAP, to save me from the daily Modesto to Roma in a deal including [Insert name of potential bargaining chip here] and I end up going out of my mind by July, as was the case with Chivugate last year.

In the end Modesto in Rome would be fine (best team, not best players bullshit again), but he’s down the list a bit I’d guess.

Who Are You Again?

Apparently Roma has offered 5m for this guy: Ibrahim Yattara.

You wanna know how much I know about him? Watch the next YouTuber, because that’s it:

Going to be 28 in a week and he’s been playing for a good, not great, Turkish team. Why the fuck am I not enthused?

* – And why do I not believe this rumor? Why do I not believe any rumors? Probably because they’ve given me reason to. Color be flabbergasted if this turns true.

Gilberto. Not That One. No The Other One. The Arsenal One.

Roma is interested in his physique in the midfield (which is the surest sign yet Rosella is keeping the team – bada boom). All this central midfield crap is confusing me. Aquilani isn’t going anywhere. Brighi might, and Gilberto would certainly be an upgrade over him, also allowing DDR a couple extra siestas in the stands without giving all the tifosi heart palpitations. Then there’s Pizarro who is the least unlikely candidate to ever be surgically detached from the Mister, but, uh, some offers are just too good to be true, which appears the case for every rumor that’s popped up including his name. Who the hell knows.

Here’s your foolproof central midfield knowledge, guaranteed to be 100% true: On September 1st we’ll know who’s playing in the middle of the pitch somewhere near or around DDR, KA and Simone. Until then, it’s all going to be banter….and I may pull a Cassanata or two.

There, take that to the bank.

I’ll Take You Too. Why Not.

Coming from the “we’re going to throw a bunch of names into a list” department, I’d like to introduce Hassan Yebda of Le Mans. From a most basic, the system is going to be shut down in about a half hour and I have to rush this out, standpoint, let’s assess him by the other names on the list: Benfica, Marseille and Arsenal.

The last one is the most important. Cool! Of course, it could all be bullshit. Not cool! Who cares! Here are some goals. Woooooooo.

Simone would’ve put that into Row Z, well done.

Is it me or was that Arsene Wenger commentating?

There goes GOMR’s spot.

Again, call me unenthused. I want Champions, like these guys….

I’m sorry I just ruined everyone’s day. My lord…..

Cassano

I’ve always maintained that it is not time for Cassano to return, and that he really, really needs to make amends before it can be considered. I also think we all, despite differing opinions on the sale, want one thing above all: Another scudetto for Francesco. Money is never a guarantee, so big bucks or not is really irrelevant right now.

There is one player on the planet that I truly believe, I’d even bet the house on it, could bring a scudetto next year if he were to sign tomorrow: Antonio Cassano. You can have CR3.5, Messi, Gomez…anybody. But what he did with Totti was something else. Those two were born to play together.

Considering Donadoni seems to be able to forgive and forget, or at least the latter, the question is, and this is purely hypothetical because he’s heading back to Sampdoria, would you take him back? I’ve always been curious as to what this percentage would look like.

Would you take Antonio back?
( polls)

The 23-year-old Ascoli star is a skilful dribbler with lightning movements, and he has earned the label in some circles as the ‘Cristiano Ronaldo of Serie B’.

“Well, yes, I like the comparison, the way I play is inspired by him,” admitted Guberti.

“I disagree, however, with those who say that Ronaldo derides his opponents. Like me, it is the way he interprets the role, although he probably does exaggerate a little too much sometimes.”

“I am a fan of Milan and my dream is to play for them. However unfortunately they are the only team who have not approached me.”

So…..he’s a CR3.5 wannabe and his dream is to someday leave his next club for Milan. Nice. Roma has the opportunity to be the future ex-club of the Italian Crissy RonRon. Love it.

They’re doing this to me on purpose. I know they are.

So Stefano Guberti of Ascoli. Can’t say I remember him from last year, but then again, watching Ascoli was never very high on my “To Do” list. I suspect the same could be said of most Ascoli tifosi. As you heard a 23 year old winger with pace and technique and all those fancypants things which make desired wingers so desirable. The most recent news is that negotiations are quite advanced and that there’s a good chance this kid will be Roman property next year for the price of 4m.

Usually a Serie B winger isn’t anything to get too excited about, but apparently the comparisons to CRon are so apt that ManU themselves have been showing their interest in the kid. When they have that much cash and they’re looking at Serie B bargains….the kid must have some skills. And he was apparently close to a deal with Fiorentina, who still have interest, which is uplifting all by its lonesome. Pantaleo Corvino can sniff out talent like he can sniff out edible prosciutto in a dumpster.

Left-winger it seems, but in the brief video I’ve seen he appears to favor his right with a nice little shot on net to go with all that fancypants ball work. In 37 games he’s got 7 goals, which is a decent sum for a young winger. Other than that? Nadda. He’s in Serie B, what do you expect?

Quite frankly, I’ve been hoping Roma would start poaching starlets from Serie B. You’ve got to believe most of the time it’s going to be smart business, because very few are going to come at a premium and the question of whether or not they can hack it in the top flight will leave a few teams hesitant. Some will flop, surely, but so won’t some stars from small clubs in Serie A who turn out to be the proverbial big fish in the small pond (Francesco Tavano comes to mind, though I’m starting to think he’s just not all that good). Quantity + quality doesn’t hurt.

Really looking forward to hearing more on this deal. I have yet to see the kid and I, for some odd reason, hope he shows up in Rome. Until then just pray he aspires to be more Totti or Vucinic and less CR3.5.

* – I just talked myself into loving a transfer after being vehemently against it over the course of a few paragraphs…again. I feel like I should be stronger than this.

The only vids I can find are individual goals (in the case of the second vid he scored both), but they are somewhat impressive:

First goal, 1:00 mark.

Both goals.

Briefs

I) Inter’s fans have been banned as well. Fair’s fair. That is, until there’s a possible penalty after the 70th minute….

II) Gianluca Curci is now wanted by Napoli, Fiorentina and Bologna along with Parma.

Listen, if Parma wants him, then they damn well better beat Inter this weekend and then send Daniele Dessena over for Matteo Brighi and a loan of iTunes.

* – Frey looks to be headed elsewhere, doesn’t he.

III) Cicinho says Roma will win. Don’t do that.

IV) These few days have been really slow for a title deciding week it seems. I blame Al Gore. Don’t ask.

V) Napoli has reportedly made an approach for Antonio Di Natale. I LOVE it.

(See: Francesco Tavano. Just sayin’.)

It seems like there should be more than this, but Soros is the same old regurgitation and Rosella ain’t sellin’, half the football minds think Inter will win, the other half is going with Roma (though Zamparini seems to think Cagliari will pip the title on the last day), they’re discussing Chivu’s injuries (again), and how many bottles of bubbly Moratti has already bought for the party at FIGC headquarters the San Siro next week. A whole lotta nothin’ going on.

Formality over, and that’s precisely what it looked like: a formality. The game was as much terrible as it was painfully boring, especially towards the second half – at least for me. I’ve had more exciting prostate exams. And, quite frankly, it had the feel of a friendly. (Just like the prostate exams.) The first half was more or less even, as it was on the scoreboard, while Roma finally took over the second half. Catania looked like precisely what they are, an inferior team with a severe dearth of attacking punch. It seemed the more the tried to press the ball forward, the more they tried to pull the trigger from outside or send in a useless cross to one blue jersey surround by a half dozen of the white variety. It was more or less what we (I) expected, and it’s on to another Coppa Italia final with Internazionale FC +1 on May 24th.

I find it really difficult to take too much from this game from a negative standpoint. The only thing worrisome was the patchwork back line, which looked shakier than a hooker in church, and will be sure to give me nightmares if Juan and Mexes are unavailable again at any point over the remaining three games. I almost threw up watching that collection. Twice.

There was some good, though:

iTunes: Kid gets more impressive with each run out. Or at least more tantalizing. I find it hard to judge a players defensive qualities against the sterility of Catania. There were a few very nice tackles, some pinpoint crosses, smooth footwork and those two Howitzers at the end, all of which is something I think everyone would love to see more of in the future. Almost surely needs a year of seasoning in the upper levels of calcio before he’s ready for that LB spot, but who knows, maybe we’ll all be shocked and find that a world class back is waiting in the wings sooner than we thought.

King Alberto: Great game, and awesome to see him bag a goal. Surely deserves a steep increase in playing time over the last few weeks as Spal closes out the season.

At least he better…..

Cicinho: The guy sent in a couple absolutely gorgeous crosses today. That ball to Simone was a thing of beauty. Though I’m pretty sure he had to limp off the field after taking a shot to the buttocks. That, my friend, is totally uncool and anti-macho. Front side? Take your time, sir, while we all grimace with you. Back side? Get up you Sally.

And that’s about it. Good result, very good second half, and it’s time to bring on the Nerazzurri.

“Highlights”, if that’s what you want to call them:

Takeover

The big news with the takeover recently has been whether or not UniCredit would exercise its right to invoke a 2% clause, perhaps Georgy Porgy’s best chance at getting the club, giving it 51% ownership in ItalPetroli and thus the chance to sell to Soros to pay off their debts. Well today, after lengthy meetings, they stated they will not use their clause, therefore Soros must deal only with the Sensi fam. Who, according to all reports and pure logic, do not want to sell – or at least not to Soros.

They’ll still have to restructure the debt, but it seems like the relationship is good between the fam and UniCredit, and that they have a good amount of trust in Rosella. We shall see, but Soros as owner is looking less and less likely by the day.

Ludovicious

Via Giacomo, a lawyer in Rome with knowledge on the inner workings: Ludovic Giuly has put in his transfer request. Basically, he wants more playing time – a fair request for someone whose career is essentially winding down. Didn’t realize this, but he has played a full 90 minutes only twice since February 1, along with just six starts in 21 games. So even though his season stats don’t look as though he’s been riding the pine, it’s still going downhill.

And let’s face it, the guy hasn’t been a starter since he left Monaco. His career isn’t going to last forever, and this may be his best chance to become a starter again. It’s really hard to blame him. Plus he must’ve heard all these targetman rumors and taken them personally, feeling mighty unwanted. (No, he still can’t get on any amusement park rides.)

I really, really like what he brought off the bench, but is he an integral part of the squad? Not really. Could they find a serviceable replacement? Sure. In fact, though he’s recently suffered an injury, Alessio Cerci is a right winger/right forward, who was so good in the first half of the year there were thoughts that he may even be recalled in midyear. Then you start talking about a guy like Joaquin who has been linked recently, and it seems this may even be a chance to upgrade. Or maybe it’s time to begin the Adrian Pit Era. Forza Pit!

Looks like it may be one and done.

* – This may very well be the first RO breaking news story. Watch out, hell’s getting mighty chilly.

KA To Anybody, Everybody

So apparently Alberto’s dad has been in contact with Inter +1. Not only that, but he’s agreed to a big big contract with them on behalf of his son. Really. You know what this reminds me of? Remember when Philou was “dining” with Berlusconi and Uncle Fester in Milan the night before the Champions League final last year, and supposedly had discussed moving there? Well they were in Athens at the very same time, which was odd. Preventing them from attending any such meeting. A meeting which was later laughed off by all (or most) parties “involved”. Yet still reported.

Guess what? Bunch of horseshit. How often do we hear of things like this that are complete fabrications? If the media sees a lookalike of either he or his agent, Big Superstar Player has signed a deal with Big Club. I think it happened with Emmanuel Adebayor recently. Aquilani’s pops has agreed no such deal, I’d bet my life on it.

Aquilani is a very desirable commodity and the fact that he isn’t a lock for the first XI makes the journalists of the world go all batshit crazy thinking he’s going to be tempted to move away. Not happening:

i. Rosella isn’t going to allow a Roman born phenomenon go anywhere in Italy, so Inter and Juventus can stop salivating about, oh, now.

ii. The kid’s family is loaded. It’s not about the money.

iii. Do you think leaking some stuff to the press, via your agent, would be a good way of, oh I dunno, letting people know quietly of your desires? It’s about the same as renting a huge ass board at the Olimpico that says “FU#$ING PLAY ME!!!”.

Roughly, you know.

Of course, this has been my greatest fear with David Pizarro being Spal’s cuddle buddy. You have a kid who could start for most any team on the planet on the bench often at the expense of one of the most frustrating players on the planet. In fact, this may be costing him a spot on the Azzurri when the Euros come rolling around. Maybe even a starting spot. Wouldn’t that frustrate anyone else in the same position?

Rest assured, he’s not going anywhere. His presence means too much to the future of the club and one day, when healthy, Spal will have no choice but to play him over DP. That day being mighty soon. It’ll all be fine, and now I’m going to enroll in a seminary to make sure things go smoothly. You know, get tight with the Big Guy.

Everybody Wants Spal

The Grand Imperial Poobah was asked about the recent rumors in France that Jean-Michel Aulass wants to bring him over to the lesser side with a big, fat contract. TGIP replied:

“I am very happy at Roma,” the 49-year old told L’Equipe. “I can do a very, very good job here.

“I have everything I want here. Everybody has his place and everyone trusts everyone else.”

I don’t really care about Lyon, his next move will clearly not be a step down to OL, but that’s a great line to hear from someone so influential in this side. I, and many others, still believe he has room to grow, but I think to a man we hope he does so in Rome….and in the process breaks his nasty addiction to pint-sized Chilean playmakers. Tis a tough nut to crack, though.

My favorite part of the little Lyon-Spal report was this:

“A few weeks before that game, I received a Christmas message from Lyon,” he revealed.

“In the card it said: success is for those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

God, that makes the usual corn you get from Hallmark sound like riveting prose. Typical Frenchies.

Cry Baby 3.5

I took great satisfaction in this video until the very end. A good thing is never left undisturbed, is it? Bastards.