The Second Time Around

I would have loved another defender too but here is the reality: 3rd place was never the objective for this season.  Of course the players set higher goals but if you look at what we started building over the summer, it's obvious.  I think the suits feel like we have what we need to get to 5th place and EL.  Over the summer, we will evaluate where we are, how certain players have progressed and how they might fit in and which players will stay, which players will be promoted and which players will go (think Juan, Heinze, Kjaer, Burdisso, Antei, Nego, Crescenzi, Marquinho, Gago, Greco, Simplicio, Viviani, Florenzi, Bertolacci, Perrotta, Bojan, Lopez, Caprari, Borini...).  All these players may or may not be part of next year's squad and need to be thoroughly evaluated.  Based on those evals, Saba has been working on possible moves (I am sure) but they don't want to jump the gun when there are sooooo many "?" for next year, particularly if they feel we have enough right now to attain our goal of 5th place.

Corluka went on loan to Leverkusen... Don't know if he would have been the right fit for our system, but I'd have been willing to give it a shot on loan... we may need the extra body before the season's over.  I will say thought that I already trust the suit's decision making ability far more than I ever did under the latter years of the Sensi regime.

I think he was coming to play the 3 man back line to play against the 4-3-1-2 we often face. A luxury though. He is not a wing back and not a central defender so not sure how he'd fit in otherwise.

You can't compare the 2. Money/time

I like the players we brought in. Lamela and Pjanic great. Heize steady. Bojan is a hard one, but I kind of see him as a Giuly type role. It will not be a huge loss if we don't keep him. Hopefully.Stek........Angel can be worked on. Borini could pay off. johnny depp, I like him.
I'll miss Pizza cause he has not played much recently. I do agree that the tactics are missing. We are missing a lot of key players from 6 months ago. Coaching changes and ownership plus player turn over equals uneasy  fans.I'm gonna keep tuning in each week. It's honestly not that much different from many other seasons. 

What a fucked up world. They made the "crazy eyed Pizza" the stock image. Bastards.  

http://www.corrieredellosport.... 
That fucking prick at the Bologna site has made it so that when you search for images of Pizza the one comes up turds in his hands. Trust me on that. You don't need to look it up and feed the trolls.

All in all its harmless and funny its just hurts a lil' right now.

I wanted to post the Zampa one I found, but this is better quality.
Pizza to John winner vs Juve.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... 

Okay, I'm just going to assume this for the good of my health: The management assumed that third place this season is a lost cause, and it would be a waste of half a season's wages and extra money to buy good players, especially when there will be more and/or better options in the summer. We're going to tear shit up in the summer mercato! So a bad winter transfer window is a good thing! :D :D :D Happy happy! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... 

So it's the end of January and De Rossi still hasn't re-signed...What does this mean? Wasn't today the "deadline" to sign the contract?

It means they know he's going to re-sign so they didn't need to re-sign him by January.  Reports are that the only thing left to agree is the buyout clause... Dani wants it at 8m and the suits want it at 12m.  In the end it'll probably be set at 10m.

Are you fucking kidding me?8 fucking million?On 6 mil a year contract? Initially they wanted it to be between 20-25 million and now 1/3 of that. Really playing a shithead card there Dani, huh? If the agreement does turn out to be in that region..I don't even want to say it.

I just don't understand why it takes so long to figure something like that out. I also don't understand why the buy-out clause is set so low. If De Rossi would ever requiest to leave I would hope that at the very very least we would get minimum $25 million...

Exactly. If DDR really wants to leave he should at least ensure Roma gets "money worth it" (at least 25-30 Mill). Anything else would be "dagger" and would seriously piss off all Romanisti .... And I thought he was one of us. Well, I still hope this is not true but certainly it smells really bad that he wants so low buy-out clause (does he think no club would invest more than 8 Mill for him while he is playing prime football with versatility like nobody else ? Very strange !).

well I at least expected ONE defender being brought in, Marquinho can play LB but he's even more attacking than Rosi or Angel I presume plus he may be like Taddei-wingerish but Taddei as shitload of serie A experience, Marquinho must learn how to play LB in LE's system, let alone play in serie A against tougher opponents than in Brasil

shame, a little letdown of Saba and his pedophile obsession (Lopez, Ferrante), I know guys like Isla or Hummels won't come in january and they are already hugely important in their squads Udine and Dortmund, but someone like Boccheti, De Ceglie or Dainelli would have been welcome even if it was till june

Saba seemed to forget we must miss Burdisso till may, while Greco/Simplicio/Gago can't handle the vice DDR role, Osvaldo is not fit yet, Juan is an injury risk too etc

however, nice work of loaning Caprari and finally Barusso's out too. I liked both Borriello and Piza but clearly LE didn't, they are too good to be on bench plus they have high wages so why keep them? At 29 and 32 they weren't the youngest anymore too.

all in all, meh expected more but at least the core's there: Stek/Rosi/Juan/DDR/Pjanic/Lamela/Totti and behind them a large group of players like Angel, Borini, Bojan, Gago, Perrotta, Taddei etc who will all have their minutes and chances

I was expecting at least two signings and we didnt even sell pizarro we loaned him. he'll be 33 when we get him back, who will buy him then? WTF sorry if im being negative guys but i need to vent somewhere. all we have is totti lamela(unproven) de rossi pjanic(unproven).. who else is real quality?

Stekelenburg and to a certain extent Heinze & Gago when he decides to be Gago instead of Gaga. Or just Stekelenburg.

I Heart that, Masonio.

All they signed is marquinho who is more of a midfield/wing player than a defender. A great signing but WTF!!!

did they forget burdisso is gone, Osvaldo is injured, we sold borriello, taddei is our best LB/RB and Rosi is constanstly injured and needs time to grow. Our defense is garbage and Bojan would cost us 40 mil, so he'll either improve his form and still probably wont be worth the 40 million or continue to play like an amateur and go back to Barcelone which is prolly what he dreams of anyways.

Thanks for nothing Sabatini and the whole Roma board. Spending money in a retarded sort of way. We don't have one solid proven player since the season started, no wonder De Rossi wants to leave, he doesnt feel like carrying a team while the youth grows and by the time the team becomes talented enough to challenge for real silverware, he'll be older and maybe not even a first choice. He wants to play for a team thats at least on his level, its like Messi playing for Lazio. Hope this board stays up love the comments guys. long time reader first time poster 

So the transfer window is now closed in Italy but still open in some other countries so we can still sell players but not sign any. Only one signing for Roma, Marquinho. Hopefully he turns out to be a good one...

Florenzi and Stoian both scored tonight. As for Pek, I'm happy he didn't leave for Juventus after all. Hopefully his departure will boost Viviani's chances.

Considering Pek wasn't playing much and LE seems to prefer Greco and Simplicio over Viviani I don't see this moving helping Viviani much. In my opinion Viviani should be the first midfielder to come off the bench/fill in, only behind DDR, Pjanic, and Gago in the pecking order.

Verratti is coming in june

Marco Verratti? Source?

I have not read anything official but have read in a few places that Verratti & Perrotta will be ours from Pescara.

Perrotta might be useful but Verratti would be a silly buy considering the great midfield talent we have out on loan right now (Bertolacci, Florenzi, Stoian).

For the life of me, I cannot understand how Pizarro does not fit in LE's scheme. When it comes to possession football and passing, he seemed ideal.

And if not ideal, definitively better than Simplicio.

Perhaps someone here has figured out why he did not fit for LE?

I'm with you on this one. The only things I can think of are possibly him being lazy in training or that time he walked out on training and left the country.

I think its two things.  The first is that he is slow and doesnt create enough movement when going forward.  The second is he is weak defensively, and does not press the opposition quick enough.  I remember when he played a few games at the beginning of the season, and all of the attacks against us were coming form his side.  I think it was when we played Valencia.

Probably defensive weakness was his achilles heel. Shame, I really liked him, and I think both Juve and Man City where right to want him on the squad.

I'm shocked to see Pizarro leave, even more so when that fourth choice CM spot is proving to be a major problem area for us at this point in the season. I understand that LE would've had his preferences for Greco and Simplicio at the beginning of the season, causing the rift between Piza and the management (I'm assuming thats where the problem started, not entirely sure though), however coaches at this level need to adapt their strategies and preferences according to the situation and show some fluidity in their tactics at the least. Game after game both Greco and Simplicio have thwarted that faith apart from a few mentionable performances once in a blue moon (Greco has failed to provide even that). I feel Pizarro could've easily contributed much more than what the other two can ever do. It's a bad bad deal for us, considering that our winter purchases are more or less done with (I'd love to be pleasantly surprised though.. *Fingers crossed*)

this weekend, a trip to lovely Cagliari and guess who will be playing? DANIELE CONTI

my initial reaction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

No kidding. Always a danger against us it seems. We play them tomorrow, though. 

On the weekend we play Inter. The plan is for Dani to be ready for that match. He did train fully with the squad already but it seems we are saving him for them. Pjanic is still unknown if he will be ready for Cagliari. If he's not it looks like Greco - Gago - Simplico starting. Personally wouldn't mind Viviani &/or Simone getting another start.

you're right it's a midweek game I forgot, thanks for reminding me!

Simone, yes! Greco just looks lost sometimes.

Perhaps DDR will be on the bench against Cagliari, and possible getting some match minutes.

As for the midfield, Gago must start. Simplicio, even in a curent run of bad form, should also start for some creative outlet (Hey mister, Pizzaro would have been a nice fit). Would absolutely love to see Viviani get a start, but Perotta has been solid coming off the bench and deserves a shot.

No DDR at all on the call-ups list.

With me it was more like

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

Really ? Not a single new D player in mecato ? Didn't we all pray to ge someone to help out CB line (as Kjaer, Heinze and Juan & Rosi/Taddei on flanks have shown several weak spots).

How can we not reinforce our back-line at all ? Very disappointing.

Apart from newly shown "toothless" attack LE and Sab must see how vulnerable we are with our possession game-plan and counter-attacks against our older guys.

In other news: I also agree that it is mistake to let Pizzaro go (while Greco, Simplicio stay). He was not given a chance this season and used to be extremely solid and creative. Roma will miss you, you were great player over many seasons ! All the best at Manshitty !!!

Marquinho supposedly can play several positions on the left side of the field and will probably be slotted in at LB. Most likely an upgrade over Angel simply due to his age and experience. But who knows for sure.

well we are in negotiations for Ghoulam a leftback. I know nothing about him, 20yr old here's a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

not coming. not until June, at least.

Bocchetti's agent has said there was contact with us but nothing concrete. Also said he'll be sold in June.

Primavera side up 2-1 over Milan in 2nd leg (won 6-1 in first leg). Ferrante makes bench and just got subbed on. Almost 3-1. And 2-1 FT. Once again we are in the final.

It's easy to see why Saba keeps buying foreign youth players.  Our home-grown players are truly hopeless...

well we're in discussions with st etienne having had an offer of 500k refused for Ghoulam a 20yr old. Apart from that Pizarro is flying as we speak to man city. Pity to see him go he's been one of our best players for many years. Doesn't fit with the new guy's plans (if you'd call them plans). wish him the best, they don't have technical players like that with vision in England.

true, Pizarro has been probably our best player 2 years ago in that pursuit of Scudetto. He is a fine footballer, I wish him all the best.

Pizarro on loan to Man City is almost a done deal. Also, Caprari has finally officialy joined Zeman's Pescara on loan.

I can't see anything happening today on Mercato. Every time we had so many rumours, and well, where there is smoke there is fire. I didn't see much smoke this year. 

In other news, Honda not coming to Lazio, which is fine, and now they've turned their attention to *drumroll*  NILMAR! good luck there, goats.

According to goal that was rejected so apparently they are looking at Casemiro, hopefully that is goal doing what goal does best - bullshitting.

I read yesterday that Sab was in France, perhaps trying to swoop under the radar for a deadline day signing? Lugano maybe? Or somebody equally as capable in defence but younger hopefully.

quote: "Apparently Villarreal have rejected Lazio's bid for Nilmar, with the Spanish club turning toSao Paolo once again to try their luck - and possibly bring the Brazilian club's Casemiro to El Madrigal."

no Casemiro to Lazio, but to Villareal. 

Bah, damn my glossing over the timeline, cheers for that - would have been sick to loose a player, previously linked with us, and with so much potential to Lazio.

You never know with Sabs.. I hope we get a defender, nothing flashy, just a good defender and I'll be happy.

Roma general director Franco Baldini said: "For our transfer market, I would say that there will be no surprises, we're just trying to close with City for Pizarro.Hope he's lying through his teeth.

about the surprises no about pizarro.

i think he meant that no surprises with man city, as in selling de rossi

Nope, he clearly says "For our transfer market..."

What I took from my trip to Rome:

- Brilliant atmosphere. We should have won though.

- I was happy to see Perrotta for what might be the last time. I've often said that he deserves the chance to retire as a Roma player. I think his commitment and his past achievements earned him that right. Furthermore, I think he's a good influence in the locker room.

- I still don't reckon we need anything more than one CB. Unless, of course, we have any departures. Viviani's game will improve with every match he plays - get him in there.

- When Pjanic doesn't drift out of the game, he is unimpeachably brilliant. Same with Lamela, really. Who knows what those two could become in a few years?

- I didn't see the Primavera this time, and I already regret it. I especially wanted to see Valerio Verre. I haven't heard my dad's uncle get that excited by a young player in many years.

- I got to see some members of my family for the first time since Christmas of 2010, which makes the trip a success, even with the loss of 2 points.

Valid point @ Viviani. I'd rather see him instead of Greco. Greco hasn't showed any sight of improvement in the last 2-3 years. Viviani is younger and already has more skill. I'm also excited to see Verre but I think it'll be good for him to be loaned out to the Serie B (maybe @ Zeman's Percara?).

The way they're playing Pescara probably won't be in Serie B next season.

Now it seems Pizarro is really close to Man City.

I don't understand. How come LE rates the likes of Greco and Simplicio higher than Pizarro? I know he's older and all, but Greco hasn't played one good game this year and it seems the only reason he's still around is because he is Roman.

"The problem is you don't get time in Italy." - says the Inglorious Mr. Z.

http://football-italia.net/nod... 

Or would you rather, "the problem is you don't get time under me?"

Less than 18 hours until the transfer window closes. Let's see what Saba has in store for us...

Well, we got 3 on D-Day in the summer. Some CBs with quick feet would be nice.

Here's a decent video of the Lamela kick and red card
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

If Sab can indeed bring Lucas to Roma, even on loan, then he's truly our #1 extension priority for the coming season. Best thing to happen to Roma since Spaletti.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
This lineup makes you realize what kind of revolution is going on at Roma at the moment..

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net...

That guy looks like a bitch... oh wait, he is a bitch!

For no reason watching reaction videos from the final of the 2006 World cup, when the name of a restaurant in this video caught my eye http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Sabatini is in talks with Lucas's agent (sao paulo) and sab has a good relationship with the club.

Pizarro is headed over to Manchester to complete his move to City. 

All we need now is to get rid of simplico and cicinho. 

 I saw vids of Lucas over the summer.  The guy is INSANE!  He makes Lamela look like he has 2 left feet (or in Lamela's case - being a lefty and all - two right feet).  That said, Lucas' price tag is through the roof and I don't think there is any way in hell we are going to get him.  He is going to go to a "top dollar club" and I think it will be in the summer.

how can that be true?  I think Pizarro has been one of the most underrated players in Italy the last 4 years and I love what he's done for Roma and his commitment.  Unfair the way he got moved out but it was time for a change and to move one.  It happens in football.  Still, what can he contribute at a place like Man City???  He won't even make the bench...

The main thing is that Mancini likes him. He had him at Inter if I'm not mistaken. In my opinion, he would be their best regista hands down. I still think he wouldn't make bench somehow, though. And definitely too brittle for the league.

well, imo his greatest days were at Roma anyways. Such a unique breed of player. Whenever we were sucking it up on the field, seeing pizarro embarrass his defenders and keep the ball made it not so bad

I agree. I know a lot of people don't like him for whatever reason but I've always seen him as a quality player and thought he would have fit into this new style perfectly.

However, with his injuries, and possibly something else that Luis Enrique just doesn't like (perhaps lazy in training or something else) seems to have put him outside our main squad. I'm sure him leaving training and later saying it was a family issue might have something to do with it, too.

I've read that Pizarro is their (Manchester City) plan B to Dani, so I'm fine with that if that is the actual case.

Pizarro at times could seem somewhat apathetic. And to some degree, that is just part of his playing style, he just isn't so extraverted like DDR. I remember he would always turn up his effort before contract renewals, but then again, who doesn't?
anyways, a genuine part of the Spalletti era

good to hear that Mancini likes him

Borini's miss.
Gago not being Gago until we were losing.
Erik being a nimwad. 
Another one of Totti's shots going just wide.
Juan fucks up.
Someone else fucks up.
Juan fucks up again.
They score.
Another epic Totti free-kick into retarded fucking charging wall.
Bojan gets subbed on.
Finding out Pjanic is a double-edged sword. He scores and gains confidence, but immediately becomes more prone to injury at the same time.
Simplicio's miss.
The cross that went through the box but behind 3 of our players.
Bojan's miss.

Suddenly realizing what to really expect from a squad of Stekelenburg, 34yo Heinze, 35yo Totti & 1/2 of a Gago surrounded by mediocrity with your best defender (Nico "All I have in this world is my balls, and my word, and I don't break 'em for no one" Burdisso), best midfielder and top scorer all injured. 

One reaction for them all.

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr... 

With that being said it's not the end of the world or anything. Having a few great players right now instead of 5 years later wouldn't hurt, though. + bad mood from fiancee's sister being in a horrific accident.

Daje Roma

Yup that about sums up the game in one word.

Sini and Barusso to Livorno (loans)
Marquinho is official, as is Ferrante, an Italian U17 forward with Argentine roots

Pizarro is very close to Man City (romaforever.it)

Seriously, whats the point in bringing these youngsters? Just give our Primavera players a chance!

If getting Ferrante means no more Tallo then I am all for it.

I'd prefer Leonardi over either of them.

It appears we signed Nico Lopez as well. I dont think he will see the pitch much as an 18 year old. Hopefulyl he lives up to his hype in about 5 years

We signed him sometime ago. He's been playing with the Youth for the most part.

Actually there have been problems with his transfer that have prevented him from playing for the Primavera team.

He scored a brace against Frosinone about 10 days ago with the primavera

That was only a friendly, though.  He's been unable to take part in any of the official matches.

Right, because we didn't file his papers till today with FICG. But he signed on the 4th and has been playing with the youth for the most part except for late last week when he was practicing mostly with the sr. Squad.

Actually we deposited his contract back on the 11th, but FIFA was bitching about something or other.

Actually what? You keep using that and yet don't actually correct anything.

Deposit the contract where?

The contract was not submitted to FICG until today because you don't have to until the end of the WTP unless you want the player to play in official matches. In which case you have to submit a roster and due to roster restrictions you'd have to move someone out. It's pretty common.

call the waaaaammmmbulance

wwwaaAAAAAAaaaaaa

Good point you should be a life coach.

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

So funny, that's totally how I imagine you. Well a bit sweatier.

...who cares, you guys? 

and Ferrante..Argentenian with Italian papers..plays for Italy u17

A point no one has said and I feel VERY vaild.

We have not come back from behind all season, we have not ever come back to draw after going one down, this was the first time we come from behind iirc. 

So with all the happenings, I take this as a positive. Should it have been a win? HELL YES. But for now I'll take this as a step in a season we have dedicated for steps... still catania 25 mins IS very very crucial now...

Marquinho is official. Hopefully this helps solve our LB position and solidify the defense a bit. From what I've seen/heard he does look pretty damn impressive.

I don't know how he is defending, but if he can at least get back and give us an extra body back there (like Rosi) it'll be a massive help.

In terms of his playing style, he has drawn comparisons to Cafu. He can't be that bad.