First match back of the season, new faces that haven’t adapted, some changes in tactics and Totti coming off of injury. We didn’t play our best but you can hardly fault the squad.

i don’t know if anyone else has noticed, but many of the youtube clips showing the fantasy goals that we all love are scored against a ball wall of 3, not 4.

even though Inter’s defenders are not the greatest back line, they worked very effectively in Mourinho’s strategy to jam up our offense. this is why we need:

1. a good winger to open up the flanks and to allow Spaletti to field the mid-fielders in their proper positions so they can play where they are supposed to and thus more effectively

2. Cici in the back line to provide extra depth behind the attack

3. more long shots to keep the oposition’s mid-field out of the box. we have great long range shooters – Totti, DDR, Baptista, Aquilani, Pizza’ and even Cici

use the full arsenal!

i am assuming that we are going to get a winger and then Aqui, Perrotta and Pizza’ can be played in proper positions. this will also create a better structure to serve Baptista, who i think will be good once he can get more space and more through balls.

i remain unconvinced by Riise but i agree that he needs to be given a chance. he made a number of critical errors that we were lucky did not result in more goals for Inter and he lost possession a lot (i know others did as well but he was the only defender who did and that’s dangerous). Tonnetto was better.

We really need Cici back in the line-up.

we are adding class players that we couldn’t last years and are starting to build a real competitive team, Baptista is going to be a real option up front and I am confident he is going to be an amazing signing. Riise is a step up on Tonetto and we are going to need his experience, once he gets his confidence back I am sure he is going to start to shine.

If we get a winger then we are going to be able to choose from several formations and that makes me happy, finally spalletti has the depth to be able to choose different formations.

I just hope we can get Perrotta to start scoring again, he gets into so many scoring positions, he just needs to find a good run and get his confidence back because I consider him an essential part of our team and I hope he can find his groove

Vucinic’s & Cassetti’s PKs was pure class, though.

Baptista really showed me something in the 2nd half. I was scared that he would be too slow and big and not have enough of the passing skill, cutting, and moving that is Roma football, but when he actually started getting the ball in the 2nd half, he preformed really well, at least in my humble opinion. He coulda scored a few times but his efforts were a little weak.

Totti is not ready, he will be in a few weeks though.

D.D.R. was an absolute monster. Whatta performance. Just when I think I can’t fall in love with him anymore, I do. He either scored or created both goals today. He had the delightful screamer and then the nod back to Vucinic for the 2nd goal. Wow. I really don’t know why he doesn’t get more credit in the world sphere. He defends like Cannavaro, he links up play like Pirlo, and he can rip it with the best of them … I don’t think I can say anymore without splooging myself no homo.

Aquilani was largely anonymous, but as was eluded earlier, that has a lot to do with him being played out of position.

I thought Pizarro did quite well out there. I was afraid he was going to miss the PK in the shootout because it seemed as if he had a pretty painful injury.

Doni is not a good PK-defending goalie.

Just a few more observations/questions that some of you may be able to answer:
-Why doesn’t Totti ever receive the Captain’s Armband when he subs into the games? That being said, it only has been the last 2 games that he has. Whenever Giggs subbed in last year for Man U, Ferdinand would hand the Armband over to him. Just a random question…
-Why didn’t Aquilani take a PK? I would DEFINITELY rather have KA take one over Juan. Doesn’t make sense to me. Especially since Julio Cesar knows Juan’s tendencies at the PK spot since they play on Brazil’s national team together. Also, Aqui is an adept PK & FK taker. The one last year against Catania was nice.

Just a few of my observations. Hopefully we play like we did in the 2nd half come next Sunday.