Comments on: A Gift Awaits

By: SantaClaus

SantaClaus — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:59:23 +0000

Hahahaha, I honestly love reading the comments here. We have as many coaches/managers as we do members posting. Quick question….. how many of you have actually trained/played for a club in the younger categories? I mean an actual established European club. And sorry, but if you’re from North America, don’t bother answering… playing “soccer” in parks and playgrounds until age 6 doesn’t count.

One of the key jobs of being a manager/coach is to time the physical conditioning so the players’ form peaks when it counts. Great, Tottenham were energized, seemed rested and in decent physical shape. Our boys seemed like they just ran a marathon. That’s a good thing.

Spaletti is from the same school as Zeman, which means that the players will have grueling physical conditioning leading up to the start of the season. The legs will be extremely heavy, they will be extremely tired. The team’s form will then slowly raise at a steady rate in order to have it peak near the end of the season……… and I will bet you anything that this is Spaletti’s reasoning (and it’s obvious why), given last season.

Additionally, those of you who read into pre-season friendlies too much make me laugh even more…….. the games are used to EXPERIMENT when it’s free to do so… to work out any tactical and/or line-up doubts the manager’s may be having.

Anyway, wait and see how we start our season and you’ll see a different Roma with much more attacking flair…….

By: gio

gio — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:35:52 +0000

Dhaw, great line-up; though it seems you have Totti in more of a 3/4 position (where he would be best) i do not know if he can handle the pace need to play there

also, to CMP;
this is sort of my question as well and i am trying to figure out how Baptista will fit in. but Perrotta is usually played out to the left (for Roma as well as when he is in the Azzurri shirt). i see Brighi and KA as benchers and DDR centre but dropping back to defensive midfielder in the rhombus with Baptista pushing forward in the rhombus. Pizzarro i don’t fully understand. as far as i am concerned he is a bit slow on the ball and think he could be cut loose
honestly i am not sure what Spaletti is concocting, this is just my best guess

By: zack

zack — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:00:23 +0000

The only time I have ever seen Perrotta comfortable on the ball was against Catania. He beat like 4 defenders, but he doesn’t have much confidence on the ball for my money. He needs open play to thrive which is why a player that can put forth that much effort and put the ball in the net and even beat guys when put on the wing is better imo. That just means Baptista gets first priority, Perrotta still gets plenty of PT. As far as the durability goes, that could be an issue with the suits because I’m not sure why else we would be going so hot and heavy at a guy who is more of a luxury signing than anything. He isn’t what we are absolutely in need of.

btw Thiago Neves looked good today *clears throat*

By: pat

pat — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:49:22 +0000

yep thats exactly what preseason is for to test things out. i think perr’s passing and distribution is pretty good actually, my only problem is his finishing. My main question about him though is since hes what 31 now how much is his workrate going to begin to drop off?? We saw some injury problems with him last year, and as he ages i only think these problems will become more and more apparent. Although he did compare himself to a fine wine once i believe, “only getting better with age”.

By: zack

zack — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:41:47 +0000

Perrotta is also proficient in disrupting his own team’s passing lanes which part of the reason Baptista is coming. He is coming to replace Perrotta ideally in an effort to land a more skillful, stronger perrotta. Of course if we don’t manage to land the attacking player we probably won’t land, Baptista will replace Taddei, but ideally Perrotta.

It’s preseason and it couldn’t hurt to run a formation and take notes on what to tweak to make it work later.

By: pat

pat — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:33:08 +0000

we need another striker to play 3-5-2, i have about 0 faith in okaka right now, and montella is passed his prime, and i think it really would hurt us in the back. Throw a striker like milito or hell even crespo in to come in late id rather play a 4-3-1-2, with cici and riise giving us added width, and aqui and ddr playing more defensively with perrotta running around like hes crazy disrupting opposing passing lanes, what he does best…

doni
cici mexes juan riise

aqui ddr perr

bapt
totti vucinic/milito/hunt/whoever

-especially late when we need a goal

By: zack

zack — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:24:57 +0000

Preseason in any sport is hogwash to quote 1960s television. They didn’t forget how to play football, but the boys don’t care after the 75th minute of any serie a game, why would they care about a preseason matchup with the piss ants of the world?

Hopefully spalletti shows more flexibility this year than last year. I have no problem with a 3-5-2 in the preseason.

By: pat

pat — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:23:39 +0000

i would absolutely love to pick up giuseppe rossi. guys gonna be an aboslute star, and he plays for villarreal by the way not valencia…

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:21:24 +0000

You should watch the azzurri in action then. They are just incredible, maybe you guys should try and steal Rossi from Valencia.

By: pat

pat — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:19:29 +0000

regardless of how much the game means (absolutely 0), it still hurt to watch it……