The Diary of a Derby

By: chris | April 18th, 2010

Update: As a result of server issues, the liveblog has moved to chiesa di totti.

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138184501_59e00350c4

Lazio 0 – Roma 0

Likely ‘Leven

Julio Sergio
Cassetti, Burdisso, Juan, Riise
Taddei, Pizarro, DDR, Vucinic
Totti, Toni

Game: 1830 local.

Streams: My p2p; atdhe.

t-2.5 hours.

A “liveblog” seems far too insincere, too impersonal. A diary is fraught with more emotion – the emotion of a derby, say. This seems more appropriate. It may go well, it surely may not, and by the end I do declare I will have declared myself the king of Spain.

Heartrate is still right at normal, despite the espresso holding court on the sidetable next to me, and despite the fact that I very nearly died this morning but for the reflexes of a Julio Sergio. I’m starting to think this has little to do with Roma and perhaps I should go see an actual cardiologist, not the made up one which often makes an involuntary cameo here from time to time.

RomaNews has something Shakespearean about the tridente (to tridente or not to tridente – that is the question). The above is my predicted, not RomaNews’. Do with it what you will, but do be gentle – she has work to do today.

The picture is fresh, new and untested, but only seemed right under the circumstances: a higher power calling on a higher power; us calling on two.

t-2 hours

I’m passing the time with Sampdoria v Milan, as I’m sure are many, and I’ve come up with two thoughts:

i. I’m not sure today’s will be the most difficult game of the next 8 days, much less the year or anything more. Storari’s giving nightmarish flashbacks.
ii. I hope there’s an agreement that Guberti isn’t allowed to play against the parent club next week, as he interrupts my sentence with yet another slalom. Of course this means nothing of his future because even though I love his game, he isn’t exactly the ideal piece for the Ranieri method.

Thinking more – on Roma, not Goober – I see little chance of Luca Toni not starting this game. Menez is a yellow card magnet, for one, who can’t tackle, which I’m sure plays far more in my mind than that of Ranieri, while Luca’s simply a monster at absorbing defenders. Lazio play Reja’s three in the back, yes? Yes. It smells of Mirko getting the chances of a lifetime.

t-1.75 hours

Apparently all is calm in the Eternal City. For now.

The day is very, very long.

There’s every chance this game stands 1-0 or 0-1 at the half: all seven games featured a 1-0 lead at the half in Serie A today. Coincidence or fate?

I quite like Samp in their current incarnation (a lot…a real lot) but the Pazzini winner at the death isn’t what I wanted to see. No reason for them to walk into the Stadio Olimpico holding their swollen grapefruits. A nice, frustrating draw in which they couldn’t pierce a ten man goal would’ve been fantastique. No such luck.

t-1.5 hours

And there she blows: the 4th placed team comes to Rome next weekend with chests puffed out.

Suddenly, Lazio’s position has sunken a few more inches into the ground:

relegation

Heartrate hasn’t budged a dollop. I wonder if this is what Steve McQueen felt like everyday – aside from his lungs holding a mutiny and all that. Now how to pass the next 90 minutes? The early thought is to start wading through the inevitable minefield of streams now, but that might be best served at game time: 90 minutes is an awful long time with so many breakables sitting around the house.

(I’m lost in YouTube. I shall return shortly. I think.)

t-1.25 hours

I don’t believe I posted the latest Ermes, which was entirely out of protest, because Al Pacino is just awful, but I suppose this’ll do for today:

I wonder if the scriptwriters realize the guy who’s willing to die for that inch often can and sometimes does die? That, to me, DNE winning – inches or anything else.

RomaNews has unleashed onto the derby lovin’ world their probable formations:

LE PROBABILI FORMAZIONI

LAZIO: Muslera; Dias, Stendardo, Radu; Lichtsteiner, Brocchi, Ledesma, Mauri, Kolarov; Floccari, Rocchi.

A disp.: Berni, Biava, Diakite, Zarate, Firmani, Baronio, Cruz.
All.: Reja

ROMA: Julio Sergio; Cassetti, Burdisso, Juan, Riise; Perrotta, Pizarro, De Rossi; Toni, Totti, Vucinic.

A disp.: Doni, Mexes, Menez, Taddei, Tonetto, Brighi, Baptista.
All.: Ranieri

Methinks Zarate needs to look up the definition of greatness: “great” players do not ride the pine in a derby whilst battling relegation.

And it’s worth noting this is a 100%, no questions about it full squad. Like 08/09, but the complete opposite.

Also: even though I treat the written form of RomaNews’ projected formations with the utmost respect, I’d like to call Luca Toni on the right wing “unlikely”. That, I suspect, would send my heart beating like a house remix.

t-59 minutes

We are now officially “minutes” away. Many minutes, but minutes nonetheless.

Some Related Roma Posts:

Category: Team News

« Confessions of a Derby. | Home | VotD: Once Again, Lazio Can’t Stop #24. »

Doloris Chanley

Keep working ,great employment!
Nick Stahl

Nice one. Pacino is so talented. A person I both respect and would like to meet. Look forward to seeing his next movie. The popart painting I own of him is stunning and will be hung on my wall forever! PS I bought it here: http://www.paintedicons.co.uk/...
ForzaRoma

ranieri: They were booked and felt this event too keenly, it doesn't let them play the way they can. So I preferred to make a change and go back to the old system.
he switched from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1 during his first game against siena too,we were down 1-0 after the first half there too
and it clearly shows that right now we just cant play with any other formation,spalletti is still here :D
Hondo

Robert De Niro, lol
DjiNN

FORZA ROMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

After the first half I watched the ''Robert De Niro'' video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
And I just stoped watching it when the second half began... I have heard my brother jelling PENALTY!! PENALTY!... I thought it was for us, but I was wrong... When Julio saved the penalty I almost cryed...
I cant describe what felling it was when Vucinic scored 2 goals after what happened!
ROMA DESERVES SCUDETTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chris

Another moment of absolute genius from Google Translate.
ForzaRoma

former nazio striker igli tare after the game(google translated)
What do you think of words Reja on Totti?
I think the gesture is not sport. You can win but he had no respect for losers. The derby is strongly felt here in Rome and I'm so sorry aber

"no respect for losers" lol
Lucian

The only 'sgambetto' Lazio managed was Kolarov on Perrotta after the game, setting off the mandatory post derby scuffles.
Lucian

10 man Roma was fantastic. Liedholm used to say a 10 man team sometimes was harder to beat. Roma outplayed Lazio in the second half, Menez on the right, Taddei on the left, using the width of the field. On balance, a deserved win.
Roberto

Fortunate win for Roma, as they were outplayed all game.
Tottigol

I agree. Ranieri made the right decision in subbing the king and the heir apparent. Both looked to be in danger of getting themselves thrown out of the game.
rudy_roma

Grande Roma, we're in #1 again! :)
this is amazing, I hope we can keep this form and win the Scudetto.

btw: Ranieri's subs were totally unbelievable, i just couldn't believe he replaced totti and DDR by taddei and Menez. but now; taddei was the PK maker and Menez was the winner FK maker by Vuci! :D

Forza Roma
kistajk

Hats off to Ranieri for having the balls to replace the Roman duo in such a decisive derby!
Evil genius

I was thinking between ranieri and mirko's boots
kistajk

"Juan: 7 – Denied many a goal-scoring chance, including one – inadvertently - for team-mate De Rossi!" - Goal.com

LOL!
lalapolala

strange, now we need help from the goatfucker to beat intermerda. this derby lost means that they have to fight for their life against inter. i'm hoping for a draw so that both team can't get full points. :)

Forza Roma! JSB is the MOTM. no doubt.
daniele

La magicaaaa! Mamma mia!! I'm in heaven I think! Bashar I missed you man! Mamma mia che gll di voooociiiiiii!
ForzaRoma

i hope players will enjoy only a derby win,not the first place
we always do excellent after derby wins,4 concecutive wins with clean sheets at least
i say take one game at a time and the scudetto is ours
Tottigol

@cuorelupo

JSB was always our player of the season. No one even comes close.
Amir

MOTM
Sergio and Mirko AND RANIERI!!!

What a game, what a come back what a balls Ranieri has to do the right thing and pull Totti and DDR out on first half!
What a gladiator Sergio is
How magical and cool Mirko is on those kicks! I love it i love it i love it!!!!
Cuorelupo

Ranieri has cojones the size of boulders! The decision to take off Totti and DDR has to be the bravest I've ever seen. Oh and JSB may have just put himself at the top of my player of the season list with that save.
Tottigol

was it a DDOS attack Chris? From the captcha in place for commenting, I'm inclined to think it was.
Evil genius

MOTM ----> ranieri no doubt . . .
lalapolala

FORZA LA MAGICA!!!ROMA LOVE ALL OVER THE WORLD!!!! WE ARE THE KING OF ROME!!!
daniele

Sora lella della nyc! Forzzaaa rommmaaaaa!!! Lazio merda en b!!!
Diego

Vaffanculo mickey merda.
Arfaestnes

Grazie Roma! Julio Sergio and Vucinic came together to save us today. It's hard to pick a MOTM between those two. Roma back in #1, Inter merda back in #2, and Lazio merda still near the relegation zone. The order of the universe is restored for another week.
Kartik

VUCI VUCI VUCI VUCI VUCI!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dhaw

WE DID IT BITCHESSSSSSSSSS

I am here to troll , GO FUCK YOURSELF MICKEY MOUSE !!!
Jon

ROMAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! forza romaaaa!!!

fuck you all nazio scum, hope you lose the next 4 games and end up in serie B

scratch that, win your 3 games and beat inter please, or at least tie them
Lucian

What's up with this site? It simply will not load. I missed the company.
Toni

Fuck me... I've just been this nervous twice before in my life.
I'm still shaking. What a game. What a game..!
Grazie Roma, Mille grazie Vucinic.
Evil genius

OK 3 pts in the bag but what the fucked happened after the final whistle !?
mimo

dear god. what a day.. I could not access the offside pages since the game started! and Roma is now 2-1 up. God, please let this not be false hope of all 3 points!!
h2k

God Damn Ranieri is ballsy.

Take off Totti and DDR, bring on Taddei the PK winner and Menez the FK winner.

Big up to Julio Sergio too
Ban Go

WOOOOAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!
Rahul

Vucinic is the new Roman god. Down to B Lazio, down to B you go. To the title go we!
Comrade

Forza Vucinic!
Justus Caesar

MIRKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
h2k

VUCINIC!
Matthew Totaro

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vucinic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matthew Totaro

This team is going to give me a heart attack.
MJ

Offside is back and on unlike roma's passing so far! COME ON RANIERI DO SOMETHING!
MJ

Offside is back and on unlike roma's passing so far! COME ON RANIERI DO SOMETHING!
Stefano

Totti, Vucinic and Toni playing to close together, need to spread out. Open up the play more, maybe Menez comes someone to run at the D. Yah to much long ball. Hopefully they wake up!
Matthew Totaro

Perrotta never touched the ball, DDR gave the ball away I don't know how many times.

We're not building the ball up through the midfield. Playing these ridiculous long balls over the top.

Burdisso fell asleep twice in the first half.

Laziale-merda should easily be 2-0 up, embarrising so far.
Arfaestnes

Dear Ranieri,

"Just hoof it" is not a good tactical plan.

Yours,

Arfaestnes
Justus Caesar

"Jupiter's Cock".. Daje Roma! Make me proud.
Matthew Totaro

That was easily the worst fuckin first half of football we've played all year.

The entire team looks fuckin sick.
h2k

45 minutes for redemption
ForzaRoma

haha,chris you didnt even put 20.livorno there in the standings
love to see the communists back in B,we are giving them too many points every year
daniel

in Toronto, TLN in showing this game but they're showing it in their designated soccer time slot (2:30).

Should I watch live on a potentially shit stream or wait and watch it in beautiful 55 inch high def?

Help me guys.
daniel

why is this game on at 12:30 as opposed to the regular 2:45?
ForzaRoma

@Shane
maybe they will survive at the expance of nazio?
Geeg

Forza Roma, Forza tutti!!!
Fadayn

that is wonderful! I backed Samp and Wigan both at a goal down, 7.5 and 19 double...woohooo! After a bad two days the luck is turning...off to the pub to enjoy this match now. Hope it turns out as we want it to. Forza Ragazzi, daje Roma!
Shane

Great win for Atalanta. I hope they survive at the expense of Bologna who really don't seem to be a Serie A level side.
Kartik

come on ROMA ROMA ROMA!
Julian

Beautiful atalanta, siena and bologna all got points! Lets send those laziale shits down to B.
amir

FSC USA eastern cost. game is live on FSC SPANISH!
ForzaRoma

and menez is a trquartista or a free role attacker
ForzaRoma

maybe goober? he can play on both wings i think and if vuci stays(fuck bayern) then its the only way we can see him starting or at least getting normal amount of time
doubt

Exactly my thought fital69! Menez instead of Taddei would be my perfect 11. He's proved to be lethal on the right wing.
fital69

I wish we can get somebody who is better in pace to occupy Taddei's territory next summer. The only spot looks fragile to me.