News Before The Orphan Slapping Goat Lovers

By: chris | November 13th, 2008

Predicting The Lineup; Or, The Rubik’s Cube.

Did everyone enjoy their minor cardiac arrest this morning? I know I did. There’s nothing like stumbling in at 2pm and kicking off the rest of your day with shouts of a broken arm for the only Holy Roman who has sniffed full fitness since 2007. Good stuff.

Of course, he’s “okay”, but “okay” for Romans these days means “it doesn’t need to be amputated”. It’s going to be sore and were this his ankle, not wrist, a hobbled Francesco would be the only Roman rep this weekend. Actually, let’s look at the status of the Holy Romans right now:

Totti: I’m not sure he’s going to be 100% til the break. And I don’t mean the little mini-friendly break next week. I mean Christmas break. Like 2009.
Alberto: Currently getting worked over by some masseuse named Iaquinta in Baja – and it ain’t Vincenzo.
DDR: Acute Carpal Tunnel. That’s not even a real thing (I think), but it works and we’re sticking with it. (Bad sprain, actually. Still like mine.)

Here’s my expert assessment on this situation: wtf?

Of course, an adopted Roman, Philouppe Mexes, and his ‘hardened muscle’ (stop snickering – although a muscle which wouldn’t ‘unharden’ is the best reason for a sub I’ve ever heard…the subsequent ‘medical tests’ could just be a coverup to save face) will be in the lineup, after seemingly playing nice with others all week.

But another adopted Roman, Taddei (he may not be as outwardly passionate and vociferous as Philou, but he bleeds for this team), has picked up a knock and is now questionable as well. Not that his loss in and of itself is a big deal, considering his current lack of form, but add it to Pizaman’s suspension and DDR’s clipped wing and this midfield is looking suspect.

Plus there’s the fact that Cicinho and Baptista have picked up “knocks”, or whatever. Again: wtf?

So right now, these rumors of a 4-3-1-2 of some sort do look possible, if highly improbable. A 4-3-1-2 which would look something like this…

Doni
Panucci, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto
Brighi, DDR, Perrotta
Baptista
Vucinic, Totti

But more likely is a lineup involving a fullback a winger, a la…

Doni
Cicinho/Cassetti/Anyone match fit/Prade, Mexes, Juan, Panucci
Brighi, DDR, Perrotta, Tonetto
Vucinic, Totti

Or the ultra-conservative approach will be tossed in favor of something looking for more going forward, and the new #24 will get his chance to replicate the feats of the old #24. It’ll also be interesting to see what happens with Cassetti and whether or not he’s attained useful match fitness. If so, things get all the more confusing.

In short, wait til roughly, oh, the players come out of the tunnel on Sunday.

Pablo Osvaldo

I’ll keep this short and to the point: The lad can do some things besides being faux Batistuta, and it appears he’ll become a very fine player. However, he clearly needs playing time and, assuming the gods are good and kind and decide to pay attention to the law of averages, he won’t get that in Rome when bodies start coming back from the dead on a permanent basis. Spalletti is a fantastic coach in many respects, but integrating and developing youngsters isn’t exactly his forte. Could even call him the anti-pedophile, if you will. Which I suppose would make him Ralph Fiennes.

Anywho, if it’s going to be a youngster, it’s more likely to be an established youngster whose development is in the later stages (purely as an example: Huntelaar).

Posting this video solely to show Daniele Dessena’s ball in the Toulon Tournament final (0:32). Just epic.

News & Notes

I) I’m ignoring the quarterly Gazzetta shit-stirring regarding any potential sale of the team. That’s all.

II) Rumors of sending Cicinho back to Brazil and bringing Behrami back to Rome from his London sabbatical, this time on the good side of town. I’m convinced Cicinho’s days are numbered regardless – when Cassetti comes back his PT will plummet and he seems far from overjoyed as it stands – but I just can’t see the Sensi fam bringing in an ex-Lazie as a replacement. Although having watched this summer unfold they could certainly take that PR hit and keep on chuggin’.

Cicinho? We shall see. January could be the end, especially if he continues to overexpose his defensive flank.

III) After writing that little bit above I decided to comb the YouTubes in search of some positive PR for the homeless man’s Cafu and the following was the first video that popped up:

And all I could think was…when was the last time he didn’t sky a shot thirty yards over the bar? The clips in this video?

Oh yeah. Bologna.

(Not bitter. Swear.)

IV) Stefano Guberti’s agent is becoming That Drunk Girl in the bar who just won’t leave you alone.

“Stefano’s contract expires in June 2009 and several Serie A clubs are interested in his services. But Roma are his first choice and joining the Giallorossi would be a dream come true for him.”

Does this mean he’ll be reciting weekly love poems in the press til next summer? I hope they buy him January 1 to get this over with. Persistent bastard.

V) Spalletti til the end of next year!!! Unless he’s not.

Actually, is that like a one and a half year “vote of confidence” from ownership? Judging how most ownership “votes of confidence” go, how the hell did he make it to the end of the day still employed?

VI) Roma merch can be pretty few and far between, so here we go: Roma Shirts. Upstart t-shirt company providing Roman classics. I’m personally going with the Totti hoodie. Because it looks like he’s pointing at me. Yeah, that’s what he’s doing.

Some Related Roma Posts:

Category: Team News, The Derby

« VotD: The Derby Masterpiece. | Home | Derby Classic: Vincenzo’s Quad Zampafied »

PaulyWalNuts (AS ROMA) (Sopran

Pay Attention: NEW SECTION!!!
Daniele

CUCS,

It's Franco telling her to sell the club!!
For the good of La Roma!!!!!!
Kiksi

I understand the language of Netherlands no more than you do, but it seems Roma has signed a 9-year old brazz. kid.
Mostafa

Pauly and fester, if any of u are there open ur IM
Mostafa

NO FESTER, any broom would do.
Everything she gets has to be fashionable!
let her get a regular broom, like the rest of the world :D
Mostafa

Kiksi what does it mean??
Uncle Fester

CUCS- some weeks ago we had there a really nice discussion on curses, exorcisms and so on.

I personally suggested an old Polish method to stop all curses, it means: "the landlady running around the barn/cowshed/pigsty/shed/house three times with a broom in her hands to clean the air from evil spirits".

If you read that Rosella, please buy yourself a fashionable broom and run around Olimpico :D
Mostafa

Johonna and KJ Thanks for the kind words guys, but we'll need more than luck to win this match!
We Need:
Luck to win the match
A Godly gift for us the pummel them
Divine Intervention to turn the season around
A "Noah's Arc" class miracle to get to top 4 this season.
Money for future seasons!
Again, thx for the kind words.
btw KJ i agree Aquilani will never stop acting like a 5 yr old. :D
Kiksi

http://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/art...

huh?
CUCS

There needs to be some sort of exorcism at trigoria.

I think Rossella did something that really pissed off the gods.
Dhaw

Right now the only bright thing in my life is FM 2009.
Roma sitting 2nd with 8 games in.
Sigh. Life is Beautiful
Bren

HA, yeah thats an important distinction, Pauly.

Anyway, Id really love to sit in on one of these training sessions...what the hell are they doing to eachother, they must go all out
Spam filter's biggest enemy

Aqui alias Bubble Goldfish? I doubt if he manages to play in 2008... I hope his deep tissue massages will help him :D

BTW, it was so quiet today... Where art thou? Was anyone, beside me, attacked by the sun of a beach called Spam Filter?
PaulyWalNuts (AS ROMA) (Sopran

No antipathy on this side for you or various other fans Johonna. Seriously! Inter isn't the much liked by many of us, but it cannt compare, or its not as much hated as Lazio Merda.

Thanks, for the kind words. Pass some of that good luck this way, eh?
Daniele

Grazie Jo. We will need all the socks we can get....

And from the dark and gloomy night appears, KJ.

I doubt Aqui even plays...
KJ

"Totti get fit (really Fit)
DDR plays
Aqulani stops acting like a 5 year old
Pizzaman plays
Cicinho playes for us this time
Baptista proves his worth
Riise doesn’t play
Menez plays (and plays good too)
Doni stands in GK (with no “Chech” gear)
We Win!
Lazio Lose!
We win more than 10 games in serie a this year lol
We TRY to limit our losses to the ones we already have!"

everything might be possible except aqui not acting like a 5 year old...
Johonna

Well, strange as this may sound, considering the antipathy the regulars have on this board towards Inter (and by extension, Inter fans), I am pulling for Roma to win this derby.

So, pull up your socks and show them who is boss!
Mostafa

I hope:

Totti get fit (really Fit)
DDR plays
Aqulani stops acting like a 5 year old
Pizzaman plays
Cicinho playes for us this time
Baptista proves his worth
Riise doesn't play
Menez plays (and plays good too)
Doni stands in GK (with no "Chech" gear)
We Win!
Lazio Lose!
We win more than 10 games in serie a this year lol
We TRY to limit our losses to the ones we already have!

BUT these are all hopes and dreams to be shattered at the end of the lzaio match :(
that Or we can win :D
BTW new chievo post for those who care..
PaulyWalNuts (AS ROMA) (Sopran

Bren; I *couldn't* tell them apart!
Uncle Fester

Maybe we shall start our own Roma-jersey-printer business? :D
PaulyWalNuts (AS ROMA) (Sopran

Grazie Fester, mi amico:D
PaulyWalNuts (AS ROMA) (Sopran

Yeah Bren. They use good machinery. I could tell them apart. Don't worry and have them print the jersey for you.
Uncle Fester

Interesting article on KA :D
Fillippelli the (wannabe) Cook

Re: the t-shirts. According to a friend of mine, "purga" also means suppository.

But is it supposed to be translated "I have purged you again!"??
Bren

Really, Pauly? So you ordered the blank one and had it customized and it matched the real deal?
william

I say let lose our guns, I know its only natural when times r tough to go defensive but thats not ROMA

Vucinic Totti
BaptistaDDR Brighi Menez
Tonnetto Juan mexas Pan
Doni

I wanna see Menez in there again.
Fester (Spam filter, how much

I suppose Chris would love this article on Schnappi alias KA alias Bubble-Goldfish called here Roman Saviour :D
BTW: Beware! Spam Monster is on the prowl
Uncle Fester

I suppose Chris would love this article on Schnappi alias KA alias Bubble-Goldfish called here Roman Saviour :D
Dhaw

Only bright thing right now in my life is that in FM2009 Roma is in the second spot. 8 games in and looking good.
Sigh
Krki

Oh no don't get me wrong about Totti even and I don't knnow what i like to say in that sentence.
PaulyWalNuts (AS ROMA) (Sopran

Krki: What do you mean with line about Totti and LazyO? You don't make sense there.
PaulyWalNuts (AS ROMA) (Sopran

As far as the injuries, its the same place and the same practice procedures from years before. I just can't help to think that its the fucken black cloud that's been looming over this team since the Summer began. Nothing but pure fucken luck.
PaulyWalNuts (AS ROMA) (Sopran

Bren: I had a Totti #10 jersey done last year by them. Its all good dude. Perfect job by them.
ian

not worry about that injuries, i believe all the romans will play! cmon man it's derby time! I really wish for #24 to get his first goals in this game or maybe mirko, since marco did it very well in derbys! determination is our weapon,forza ROMA!
Caroe

Always a good thing to be cautious with your knee. If you play with pain you WILL get injured.
Fadayn

I think you'll find Inter and Juve have been plagued with injuries too - not saying you're wrong just saying it's not just us.
Daniele

Well...

1.) Kid's got talent.
2.) Why not we can't get much worse @ the Winger spot.
3.) We currently have Simo, a bench player, Taddei a bench player, and Brighi (who is on fire, but NOT a winger.)

That's why Alessio Juventino.
agiamba

Yeah, he's played 4 games (starting 1), that is good enough to win a return to Roma.
Krki

What is the problem with the players??? I can't understand this, i have said ones and i'm going to say it again what are they doing on those trainings? I think that Roma is in 1st place in getting player injures during training. Yesterday was De Rossi, Today is Totti and Taddei this is getting silly. And about Totti we all know how great he is and all that but when it comes to play against Lazie than it's something wrong! I can't explain this!!! It's really very silly.
Daniele

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

Grande Cerci!

We should easily bring him back in January.
denis

Bren, I had the away shirt with the 80th anniversary patch done last year with Panucci's name and number from uksoccershop.com. A little pricey, plus it comes from the UK but it was worth it to me. They're taking pre-orders now and expect to ship mid-November. I'm waiting on a long sleeved home shirt for this year. I think they've sold over half of their stock already so make the plunge before it's too late.
Bren

speaking of Merch. Has anyone ordered a Roma jersey from worldsoccershop.com and had it customized? It says they try to match the numbering and lettering as close as possible, they dont seem like theyd be that hard to replicate, but anyone taken that chance yet?

They had Totti and DeRossi official ones over the summer, after the season was over.....so I hope they can get some again.
Daniele

U bringing the morning papers with a smile!

De Rossi will play.

Totti will play.

They are Roman and this match emans more to them, than aything at the moment. Esp. given our Seire A form.
Jonas (from Flemish area in Be

really our squad is currently looking like a pile of dead bodies!
what's wrong with those Trigoria training grounds? Each day we fear one of our players gets injured during training. KA,DDR,Cassetti,Tonetto,Totti,Taddei,Juan,Doni,Baptista...are injured or come back from injuries and aren't 100% yet.
vin

Where the hell has Menez been?
ursus arctos

La Gazzetta is optimistic that Totti will play (and I would say it is a good thing for him to be especially cautious right now), while they are much more doubtful about Taddei. Also interesting to read that DDR didn't train today.

http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/...
Mike

erm, sorry chris:

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

my day started off so funny too, and then i read that.
Fadayn

http://www.channel4.com/sport/... to be expected i suppose, totti limps out of training
Fadayn

can get around 250/1 on Roma winning the scudetto this season...these odds will drop dramatically following out win on sunday, should I get on now?
http://www.channel4.com/sport/...
Johonna

Nah. I'd say the most amount of time would be locating the picture to start from. The rest would be easy as pie - half hour with the ol' photoshop and there you go.
vin

You could, probably make those shirts yourself for less, although that would require *work,* particularly on the capitano one.
CUCS

I would put money on you could make those easily yourself for less.

But I am so lazy I think I am just going to buy the Totti t-shirt.
asem

$20+ is ridiculous for those quality of shirts, otherwise I'd be all over it.
CUCS

la mamma del laziale,
je piace er sesso orale,
e si je metti un dito raja come un mulo,
je piace pijallo ar culo!!!