Comments on: The King Plays, Sven Speaks & Peruvian Beasts

By: Len Pennant

Len Pennant — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:36:43 +0000

Sell Mancini, play Taddei on the left, and play this man at RW and watch him tear teams apart with vision, flair, running, and creativity …

http://www.corrieredellosport.it/Notizie/Calcio/13713/Cicinho%3A+%C2%ABLa+mia+Roma+eliminer%C3%A0+il+Real%C2%BB

By: UL

UL — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:24:53 +0000

As my friend RomaShield has said, there really is no rush, but we must not forget that our formation, although miraculous, has bitten us in the ass before. I think in order to get to the very top of our game, the top of Serie A, it will need to change a bit. I think this formation might bring us to second place every single season, but it’s missing that extra punch on goal all the time.

In saying that, I never meant that the 7 points were difficult to chase. I did mention that Internazionale has time to mess up and their injury list with help us out a lot. Why I would like to see this deal happen? To force Spalletti to make some formation changes, to get the club to finally bring in a big man up front, bring in some cash, and perhaps shake the club up a bit.

We seem to be this dormant animal half asleep in our cave. We come out once in a while to maul our prey, but then we go back to shelter and take a snooze. I want us to be HUNGRY every match and be banging on the opposing goal like we were last season in most matches.

By: RomaShield27

RomaShield27 — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:04:08 +0000

Here’s why selling Mancini NOW would be a disaster. The most obvious reason, as Maro said yesterday, is why should we now, halfway through a promising season, get rid of one of our best players, one of our starters, and one of our most creative players, in exhange for what would be a third-choice striker in Bianchi and a wheel-barrow full of money…? Regardless of whether this deal from Citeh is on or off, or what Sven Burns says, this ‘offer’ from Citeh is certainly not as clear-cut ‘must accept’ as some were amazingly saying yesterday. They are supposedly willing to part with €24m – or €16m and Bianchi, if you like – for Mancini, which is good value, no doubt, but what good would that money be to us now? Would we, with our recent prolonged-bargain-player-hunting-history, have a suitable replacement sewn up by the end of the month? Not likely.

Then, what is the rush with selling him now? His contract is not up until 2009, leaving us plenty of time to sell him at the end of the season. He may not be having his best season with us this year, but he is still an integral part of the squad and a key player in our drive for success. And despite what Lorenzo and Urban Legend were saying yesterday, I don’t consider a seven point lead by Inter impossible to catch, especially as we are only half-way through the season meaning they still have to play all the big guns again. Including us. And we have as a good as chance as any at an outside shot of the CL – maybe we’re not among the favourites – but we still have a decent shot.

Lyon made a €20m+ bid for him a few months back. Man City have money to burn and its not like they’re going to run dry, even if they buy someone else now. Then there’s lots more Premiershit clubs who like to overspend – Liverscum, Chelsea, West Ham, Spurs – as well as the likes of Inter and Real and Lyon, again. What is going to change between now and the end of the season? Is Mancini going to have such a decline in his ability that his value will drop that much? Are clubs not going to want to purchase a top-class versatile wing-forward Brazilian? There is no rush. And everyone seems to forgetting Spalletti. Should his input not matter? He has said several times he wants no changes half-way through the season (no major changes, anyway). It is now looking more likely than Mancini will be leaving Roma, like it or not (even though we haven’t actually as yet offered him any new contract extension), but there is no rush. We must wait until the season is over, and allow suitable time for Spalletti to consider his options and alternatives.

By: UL

UL — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:55:52 +0000

Then again, a way to keep down the price and make the deal nicer for City would be to deny it all.

By: UL

UL — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:53:49 +0000

Hahaha I read this as well off channel4.com and then thought, DAMN! Our little transfer wishes are dreams.

Sven’s Mancini denial

Manchester City Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has denied quotes in the Italian press that he wants to sign Roma winger Amantino Mancini. The former Lazio and Sampdoria boss was reported as saying: “I want Mancini here immediately as he is the ideal man to strengthen my squad,” according to Il Romanista. However, the Swede completely refutes any contact with the Italian paper. “I don’t know where that has come from, it must have come from Roma. I have never spoken about that player with anyone,” he insisted.

By: Gabriella

Gabriella — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:56:44 +0000

I suppose someone is trying to raise the player’s price and this is some free ad… lol

By: Romanista SA

Romanista SA — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:54:06 +0000

Hold your horses guys.

Looks like media BS.

Sven has come out denying he is interested – link to official Man City Website

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=115&pagegid=%7BDBD12D53%2D8346%2D431D%2DA04F%2D5D0F8664DE80%7D&newsid=522199&siteid=&pageno=&newscategory=1051&frommonth=11&fromyear=2007&tomonth=1&toyear=2008

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:12:15 +0000

im just sketchy about mutu. i know he is a great player and it would be nice to see him at roma. but does he want the shirt? Plus he has an ego, and do we really ned that?

By: ricci

ricci — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:45:23 +0000

Vargas is an animal. In my opinion, hes the best LB in Italy at the moment. When he starts marauding up that left flank, watch out. Guy can defend really well too. He’s like a left footed Dani Alves, with more defensive skills/mental illnesses. He’s worth the 10m easy.

By: Lorenzo

Lorenzo — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:19:57 +0000

Ok so lets say we sell Mancini to Manciti and the choice is to get 22-24m euros or 13-16m Euros + Bianchi. Which is the better deal for Roma? I can’t speak to Bianchi’s value because I really don’t know, but lets assume Roma and ManC generally agree on his value. Which is better for Roma?

I think it depends. If we stick to the 4-2-3-1, we will abselutely need another quality LW. I don’t think that guy is Vargas. I think Vargas could be a great LB in a 4-2-3-1, a LWB in a 3-5-2 or a LW in a 4-4-2, but I don’t about him as a LAW in a 4-2-3-1. Anybody who knows Vargas better than me have input into this? That being said, I think we should go after him no matter what because we need another guy in that position and he seems as good as they get on the market, but that doesn’t solve the Mancini replacement prob.

I think one factor in the Bianchi or no Bianchi decision is Spalletti’s willingness to change formation. The other factor may be the availablity of Spalletti’s 2 objects of lust, Mutu and DiNatale. If we can get Mutu in January for a relatively fair price (even if we overspend a little), I would say just take the cash and forget Bianchi. If there is no way of getting Mutu in January, I would vote for getting Bianchi (and Vargas) and switching to a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 (if we can get Lucio too).

Thoughts?