Ignorance Is Truly Bliss

Wow, after watching Catania CLOWN Genoa today, feeling extra thankful for getting that point away last week.

Simplicio and Greco together on the pitch and I am going to stab someone in the eye. Please tell me that's never happening.

I pray that we win tomorrow.. I need that win, We need that win and most of all the team needs that win! Win Win Win!!!

We will be in a good position if we win, but let's make sure we win first.

I'm hoping Roma comes out playing it's best game tomorrow. This is a pivotal moment, the team is beginning to believe.

If they home 3 points, we'll be +2 on Inter, -3 from Udinese, and -4 from Lazio. Not bad for a team of novices, led by a Serie B coach, who started playing together 6 months ago.

Isla might be out for the season.. Where's he going to play his next official match??

Tough to say if it would be worth it to shell out ~15 million for a player coming off ligament damage to the knee. Many questions have to be asked, will he fully recover from the injury, will he return to pre-injury form, will he become more injury prone, etc. etc. He is still young which works to his advantage.

I'm speculating here, but his price might go down a bit due to this injury. Also, after a very positive start to the campaign things started to go a bit downhill for Udinese, now Isla's injury, Di Natale's injury (not yet clear how long it'll take him to recover), together with very slim squad could see them out of the places leading to Europe. 

Isla is entering crucial years for a first big move of his career and in case Udinese don't play European football, he'll be tempted to ply his trade elsewhere. 

In case we get to Europe, I'd say, go for it. He's young, he'll recover and he'll be back. He's worth the gamble, in my opinion.

Riise on Twitter: "I will never forget the Curva Sud".

If France plays tommorow, it will be his 700th professional appearance!

So... anyone missing Ranieri?

Sarcasm? If not, no I don't.

There is absolutely no reason anyone should miss Ranieri. I have a lot of respect for the guy, he came to save the team and he did even more. His current form with Inter isn't his fault, but Moratti's. As was the issue with other managers since Mourinho left.

I have the utmost respect for Ranieri, but dont miss him.  He came in and did what needed to be done, and then balled out.  I like to think hes secretly a Saboteur helping us achieve CL.

No Gago or Dani might mean that Viviani gets another start.

I hope we see a midfield of Perrotta--Viviani--Pjanic but it will probably be Simplicio--Greco--Pjanic.

Or Greco and Simply Fabio.

In that position, though?

You never know. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Viviani start, he needs games in order to develop. 

I see at least one of the two aforementioned starting there is also Simone in the mix and that's about everything we have to offer in the mid. 

Yeah, I know what you mean. I have a firm belief that Viviani is our #3 in that position, though. Wishful thinking, perhaps.

I think something like Greco/Simplicio - Viviani - Pjanic is what we will see. Simone is back but he was sick or something I heard. I prefer him over Greco/Simplicio anyway.

I am keeping fingers crossed for Viviani. Their midfield doesn't worry me as much as their strike force of Calaio and Destro does. A win is necessary.

Udinese and inter loosing is bloody good news. We may squeak into Europe after all...

Ranieri may get the sack like Gasp did after Inter lost to Novara easier this season

Here comes Capello.

he'll probably end up in Anzhi in Russia, you know, big fat pay check and stuff...

I'm sure Moratti can offer him a huge pay day. Plus at this point he's desperate to do anything to turn his team around.

Coach Luis Enrique announced the list of players called up for the match against Siena:

BORINI, CURCI, GRECO, HEINZE, JUAN, KJAER, KRKIC (BOJAN), LAMELA, LOBONT, OSVALDO, PERROTTA, PJANIC, PISCITELLA, ROSI, SIMPLICIO, STEKELENBURG, TADDEI, TOTTI, JOSÉ ÁNGEL VALDES, VIVIANI
 
No De Rossi, Gago, and Marquinho but Osvaldooooo is back. Can't believe how fast he recovered from his injury.

Also, Inter just lost 1-0 to Novara which means we can leapfrog them into 5th place tomorrow with a win over Siena.

More good news for our battle for third place: Udinese's Mauricio Isla could be out for the season with knee ligament damage, while Antonio Di Natale fractured his foot. Pretty much Udinese's two best players. Depending on how long Di Natale is out for, it looks like it will be down to Roma, Lazio, Inter, and possibly Napoli battling for that 3rd spot. I like our chances.

And for FIFA 12 users, the new squad update will be coming out February 23rd.

I was just about to ask when the updates were coming.  Good thing I read first.  Thanks bud!

Earlier this season...........

thanks for the news about FIFA, I hate seeing Barusso on our fuckin roster when I start it up

Just got back from a beer fest and I want to say I love you all.  That includes you, Taddei.  I know you've been lurking.

only 2 kinds of people tell the truth in this world: kids and drunk ones

And drunk kids.

http://mecheroma.wordpress.com... here's a list of Roma's loaned out players for the season, who would you like to have back at Roma next season or in the future?

Caprari, Bertolacci, and Crescenzi.  Hopefully we will have at least Europa League next season, where Caprari Piscitella and Bertolacci can get playing time.  Crescenzi and Jose Angel can battle it out for LB and Simplicio can be dropped in place of Viviani.

Bertolacci, Crescenzi, Florenzi, Caprari, D'Alessandro, Pettinari & Antei. I still have faith in Sini but he needs to be given a chance to prove it.

It's exciting that we have so many young prospects, but we cant have them all!  I think at most we could recall 3 of them.  Midfield is pretty much on lock with De Rossi, Gago and Pjanic as starters.  Then you have Viviani, Verre, Simplicio, Perrotta, and Greco to fill in.  

The same can be said about our front 3 with Totti, Lamela, Borini, and Osvaldo all capable of starting, with Bojan on the bench.

I feel like Crescenzi is the only one who may break into the starting 11, and possibly Antei (just because it is assumed either of Juan or Heinze will move on in the summer and Kjaer is up in the air leaving us with Burdisso and one of Juan/Heinze).

Definitely want to see florenzi, Crescenzim, Antei and Caprari getting a chance in Ritiro for nest season. I'm not sure if Bertolacci is already good enough to play with roma, but I'd like to give him a chance since I'm not to fond of Simplicio, Greco and Perrotta is getting older too.

Viviani And Verre need to be upgraded to the first team or loaned out to a midtable Serie A team. They're too good for the Primavera and on the other hand it'll be a shame if they'll only make it to the bench next year (like Viviani does now..)

Bertolacci is hugely talented and deserving of playing with Roma.  Unfortunately this season he's been playing Aquilani and missing out on tons of games thanks to injury problems.

I fell a bit bad for Montini, who appeared to be the next big thing ("big" as in, he's the size of Luca Toni)... I can't wait for guys like him and D'alessandro to step up.

I'm bored and I don't feel like making babies.

well just in case there's some who haven't seen it,

Florenzi's "capolavoro" of a free kick.. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... -

also new ermes for i CAPITANI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

we're going to get CL, we're going to win us some trophies...and we're going to do it with ROMANI on the field. da brividi..

side note- watching the ermes video for like the 100th time lol you can make out Daniele saying to Capitano (2.15) "mortacci tua" while celebrating, which means (lit.) "your violent death" ..amongst Romans it's obviously an insult but they also use it in a positive connotation to say..die violently and take out as many as you can, kinda like an honorable death for a gladiator. die with a sword in hand and covered in blood sorta LOL

That should be taken as a massive "Fuck you" to everyone who says we need to buy midfielders this summer.

The 3rd CL spot is completely up for grabs. We win Monday against Siena and we're only 4 points away from Lazio for 3rd place. Champions League football is not out of the question for us.

Also, I heard Osvaldo is back from his injury and is available to play against Siena on Monday...is this true? Anyone hear anything about him?

if Pabwaldo is back, i say much less likely we get a top 3 spot ... if Lurique decides to play him (after seeing how much better we are without him, it would be a shame, but not shocking)

He has definitely been training. I also remember him saying at the end of January that he would be back in two weeks. Only reason I remembered that is because I made a mental note that Pablito would return by Valentine's Day.

I agree that CL is definitely not ruled out. I think the argument has been around expectations. Can we fairly expect CL? I still think no. Can we expect EL? Do our expectations change as the season progresses?

I think for me, I had very loose expectations at the start of the year because there was no telling how long it would take to assimilate tactics, pick up chemistry, etc. But it is fair to say that I do not expect us to falter from where we are. So EL is the minimum requirement right now. Maybe it's cheating to do it that way, I don't know. Sorry for going off on a tangent like that.

Yes I heard the same. He has been training with the group and burning through therapy and recouping ahead of schedule. He should be available but I don't think he will start. 

Forza Simba! 

I also heard Marquinho is not ready or fit to LE's standards
I'm eager to see his giallo rossa grinta

OMG guys, there's like, a new Bojan blog on the, like, website. And it's so awesome, like, totally. He's so hot, I'm going to swoon.

does anyknow if there are more female attendance in the stadium now that Bojan is playing for us?

I bet we lost a lot when Borriello left though

There has been a surging growth of homosexual attendance in the stadium since Bojan arrived.

No probs, Nico Lopez is here.

All the ladies came for Rodrigo anyways right??  :P

Chi?

http://asroma.it/en/blog/42-ch...

"Keep in touch!! Big hug, Bojan"
 
LOL...oh boy.

Roma beat Virtus Entella 7-2 in Torneo Viareggio and are through to 1/8-finals since Club Nacional beat Santos Laguna.

Lopez made his first start and scored our first two goals. Frediani added a third before Verre scored a hattrick. Tallo ended the rout.

is that a disease?

Ermes 79 is at it again: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?f... Well played sir, well played...

 Fantastic.

Wouldn't that be, "Well played, madam"

Facebook share with the caption: "You can keep your trophies. I got these two diamonds" 

Grande Ermes.

Being a Roma fan is a unique thing in itself. I hold a very strong passion and place for it in my life. There are few things that get me emotional, and care about. That have meaning. 

Many fans may become Roma fans for various reasons. Influenced by magic perhaps. This video, that ermes always so gracefully creates, is a beautiful representaion of 2 passionate dedicated individuals footballers and as human beings. There extreme qualities are so captivating with their immense hearts worn on their sleeves, it makes it easy to love the imperfectly perfect Roma.

Loyalty. It's so unique in this age we live in. If they can love and believe as they show us, we follow and we believe even stronger. They embrace everything about the team and yet humble and very connected to the fans and passionate audience. No better form of entertainment

Grand Campioni. Grande Roma.... Si ama sempre

Grazie. Grazie. Grazie.

Excellent, just what  need to get through this long weekend as la Magica only plays Monday (IF snow doesn't decide otherwise).

Grande Ermes!!

 Amazing! This what Youtube is for!

Andy Townsend just said that ManU-Liverpool is propably one of the most anticipated sports event in the world..

Sure it is ... in the world of L'pool and Manure fans. The rest don't care.

Just like Roma-Lazio

Two teams that really hate each other cause we share the same stadium..... Get some real come backs man.

Man you are very hostile, calm down man its only football

Italians can never win from you, but you can lose from them" (Cruijff asked about Ajax's chances in the 1995 CL final against AC Milan).

"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."Bill Shankly

If football means more to you than life itself you really need to look at yourself in the mirror and fix the things you see..ill pray for you to straighten out your priorities, I will pray that you dont kill yourself if roma never win another scudetto

He's right.  A lot more neutrals care about L'Pool- Manu than Roma vs Nazio... I am a Roma fan and a serie a fan, but TBH the EPL has more to offer at the moment and they have a broader audience.  If it weren't for Roma I wouldn't give two shits about Serie A

I'm sorry, but United Liverpool is behind Roma-Lazio in many ways, I mean Arsenal United/ City United/ hell even Chelsea United. Would be much much much more an anticipated match than pool... seriously I see nothing in that team aside from say one enlgishman..

United-Liverpool is considered well behind Barca-Madrid, Roma-Lazio, Inter-Juve & Rangers-Celtic in terms of heated rivalries.

More heated, but not more popular... look at the crowd at old trafford, foriegners and kids.  You are right that it's not heated, the EPL has done a far better job at controlling ultras and marketing there teams so their derbies aren't as heated but they get all the money and the better players/ teams because of it.    THOUGH this Man U, Liverpool Tie was really heated

Please tell that to my ugly mutt of a next door neighbour. Effing manscum fan.

 You got it just right.

Should be a great next few days for football. As much as I hate Inter Merda, Napoli, and AC Milan, I really do savor at the fact that 2 of the 3 Italian teams have the opportunity to completely knock out every team from England. I'm so sick of hearing about how the EPL is the "best" league in the all of Europe.

Since 1990, England has only claimed 2 Champions League Cup. Italy has 5, Spain 7, and Germany 2. Fuck the EPL. I don't support or cheer for a single team in that sorry-ass excuse for a league.

...see what happens when we don't play until Monday, I have to reminisce over this shit.

read it somewhere that without all the foreigners, the EPL'd be in the same class as the Romanian or Belgian league.

 I have come to learn that for example Italians (or english for that matter) are not that good at judging other leagues objectively or accurately as many of the comments points out..

I'm finnish and I've followed all these leagues evenly for many years and I think it's up to what one prefers.
Personally, I feel that EPL, Serie A and Bundesliga have the most quality. La Liga falls a little short because they have only few great teams. Then there are Eredivisie, Ligue1 and the rest of the europe.

I know that many people here are americans and I don't know how good is your knowledge of various leagues.

The EPL is the best league as far as the quality of each team.  Right behind them I would rate Italy.  While Spain clearly have the best 2 teams but the rest of the league is a joke.

Quality wise the EPL has gone backwords. None of the famous big four teams have gotten any better quality wise in years and are regressing. I'd say La Liga is surpassing EPL atm quality wise and the Serie A and Bundesliga are slowly catching up. re slowly catching up. 

How can you say that the quality of each team is better in England? Chelsea and Arsenal blow this year and are overrated year after year. Man City and ManUre and MAYBE Tottenham are the only teams this year that I think are worth a damn.

Just like how roma fans say they need time to adjust to their new coach, chelsea are on the same boat, and arsenal are doing fairly well after losing their two best players, your evaluation is a little off.

Chelsea isn't a football club is just a restaurant. Everyone comes and goes but no stays. Arsenal are quality for periods of the season. Wegner needs to learn to use his money. They are the third richest club in the world. So yeah go figure. Man city bought success, Manscum just play kick and chase and Tottenham have a coach who is just so thick it's not funny.

Lol let me take a crack at this...Inter aka nothing without Jose, Ac milan, nazis, who like to kick and slap players for no reason, Napoli run by the Mafia, Roma aka soap opera with a manager who has a jaw that does not quit and looks like he has a stick up his ass that its not even funny

Your saying all of the AC Milan players love to slap other players? So one incident turns the whole team into a bunch of slappers and kickers? woooah great logic there man. Are you a fan of roma? Hope not.

Whats L.E's fucking jaw got to do with the way he manages the team? Worst come back i've seen since.......... Well probably ever.

So what if Napoli is run by the mafia. At least they play good football now with quality players.

I hate Inter and Lazio. I can't and wont defend them.

Goodday sir.

Lol taking it a little serious I see, one of your own took friendly jabs at the EPL so i did the same, if you took it seriously you have to calm down, it seems like you fans can only dish it out and cant take it no where in any of my posts did I talk shit , simple discussion , it is your fan base that takes it to seriously and begin to fight back for no apparant reason

So is that how you respond when your arguements are flawed? Clap clap for the handicap.

If you haven't realised by now this is a AS ROMA fan site, so yeah when people come on here and say shit about the italian league and roma we tend to get a little serious. Sorry if that interupted your cycle of talking utter rubbish.

Honestly this is the most hostile board that i have ever witnessed, one criticism of the league or roma comes with a ton of unecesssary amount of bullshit, hell I have better conversations with barca fans than with people on this board, and I know what you are all going to say this is a roma blog so fuck off, I enjoy soccer conversations with all kinds of fans who have differing opinions, but it just seems like a hostile bunch here.

Hostile?  Fuck you, you donkey-lipped gorilla-toothed cornbread pussy.

How the hell is my argument flawed, your fan said things like harry redknapp is so thick that it is not even funny first, I pretty sure he was just taking friendly shots at the epl which i found funny, so i did the same, seems as if your butt hurt over something so stupid, word of advice CALM down when it comes to football no need to raise your blood pressure...Im glad to see that roma fans are a classy bunch....ps i was not the one who started talking shit about the league I was actually haveing a good discussion with another fan before some idiots including yourself took it way over board.. 

There's a little X that you can click on at any time. I think it closes down the page. My advice would be to click on it.

Why would you come on here then? If you knew we would DEFEND our team?

#idiot

God you are honestly the biggest idiot I have met on a board...I really dont know how many times I have to say this I enjoy soccer discussion with other fair minded fans, in no way did I come in here talking shit it was simple discussion YOU are the one that started all this bullshit, really yo need to calm down and stop acting like a fucking dumbass

Don't you have Manure Offside to post your silly theories? You seem to crawl out of your shithole every now and then and troll here on Roma's Offside. Enjoy your EPL table tennis.

Classy posters, I will thank you

edit: no one

How can you say that the league blows when struggling teams like roma and inter are in contention for a CL spot in the seria a, can you honestly say that roma and inter are in the top 15 teams in the world right now. italy has had there day the torch has simply been passed.

How exactly do you define the word struggling? The "great" clubs he mentioned (Chelsea & Arsenal) aren't particularly struggling any less than us and are also in contention for a CL spot. Actually, they are in more of a contention than us and Inter if you look at it. The CL clubs in Italy right now are Juventus, Milan & Udinese, the only way Roma or Inter will get in is if they slip up.

As in they are not very good teams, but the fact that they are in contention for a Cl league spot shows that the seria a is not as good as people are making it out to be. Chelsea and Arsenal are far better than inter and roma, they are simply facing stiffer competition and have actually been plaing pretty good football...the fact that people lable the league as a complete shit is wrong...they should worry about italian teams actually drawing decent crowds to matches first because watching half empty stadiums is of course indicative of being the best league in the world.