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Doormatt · Post #21 » by **Doormatt** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 7:54 pm

Thanks! Yeah this team is young, and it will take some time for them to get used to Serie A (4 of our starters had never played a game in Italy until last week). I love that LE is implementing an even more open, possession based style of play, because I've always thought Roma have played some of the more beautiful football in Italy, hopefully now it will translate to wins.

Good call on Borini though, I think he'll be very good. He actually scored on his first touch in the game, but it was ruled offsides. However, if LE tries to play Borriello and Osvaldo (or Borini) at the same time again, my head will explode.

Post #22 » by **5DOM** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 8:32 pm

Really wanted to see Borini make it at Chelsea but hope he has a successful career back in Italy. He could and should have gotten more minutes at Chelsea

Post #23 » by **magik9113** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 4:25 pm

Looks like it's between Borriello, Bojan, Osvaldo, Borini for the start up top with Totti.
I'd like too Borini and Osvaldo.

EDIT: Totti Borriello Bojan to start EDIT: that was wrong.

I'm reading Gasparini will be going back to the 3-5-2. If Inter lose, he'll get so much hell.

Post #24 » by **5DOM** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 6:09 pm

Borini and Osvaldo are going to start

Post #25 » by **5DOM** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:05 pm

at Lucio trying to draw a penalty after HE kicked the keeper. Hope Stekelenburg's okay

Post #26 » by **magik9113** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:38 pm

Yeah hope he is ok. Sucks they had to use a sub so early, looks like they'll need some help.

What a crappy first half...

Post #27 » by **Slava** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:43 pm

Cambiasso and DeRossi are the only players that looked alright. Inter look disjointed as hell though.

Doormatt · Post #28 » by **Doormatt** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:11 am

I have no idea how lucio wasn't sent off, disgusting play really.

I still have no idea why Enrique thinks osvaldo is a wide player, he loses possession way too easily, and can't take anyone 1on1.

I thought our performance was alright, Taddei is TERRIBLE, always has been, no reason for him to ever play for this team. Difficult to play this possession type football with somebody as bad as him on the wings, and Perrotta in the middle. We will look better when Angel gets back, and LE realizes Gago is a million time better than Perrotta. Very impressed by Kjaer, looks like a solid defender. DeRossi was the man of the man of the match for me, our leader on the field, and was wonderful as basically a central defender. Love Borini as well, he just lacks that finishing touch (and a suspect first touch), but he works so hard, and is intelligently aggressive.

I felt like at least Roma have a plan/goal they are working for, what they want the team to look like, whereas inter look clueless.

Doormatt · Post #29 » by **Doormatt** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:19 am

Really disappointed Lamela hasn't been available, he has future superstar written all over him, the best player since Aguero to come out of Argentina imo. He'll hopefully help our attack look more potent.

Post #30 » by **magik9113** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 1:53 pm

Yeah I can't wait to see Lamela play with them. Taddei and Perrotta started outside backs...pretty crazy decision by LE. and you're right Osvaldo can't play out wide on the left.
I don't think Lucio meant to do what he did. Just stuck his foot in clumsily and late

Juve not looking as good as last week. Krasic, Vidal, Del Piero, Quagliarella, Elia all available off the bench

Post #31 » by **magik9113** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 4:17 pm

Juve with a much better second half, they get their second win.
Giovinco scores his second goal today in the last minute to give Parma a win...I love that guy.

Napoli - Milan later

Doormatt · Post #32 » by **Doormatt** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:15 pm

Giovinco is one of my favorite players, he is the future of the azzurri attack along with Rossi.

Lookin forward to this Napoli-Milan game. I've only seen Milan once this season (against Barca), and it was REALLY boring, but then again, I find a lot of Barca games to be boring.

Post #33 » by **magik9113** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 9:33 pm

Napoli again showing that they are LEGIT. 3-1 vs Milan, Cavani hattrick

Doormatt · Post #34 » by **Doormatt** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 11:47 pm

Man, Milan are really unimpressive. I know they were playing without Ibra, but Abate is average, they still don't have a left back, Nesta and Seedorf have been showing their age and they don't have a player who can control the tempo or win the ball back in midfield. Nocerino is so not top flight quality, at least for a team with winning aspirations. Is flamini injured or something?

Doormatt · Post #35 » by **Doormatt** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 11:53 pm

Not saying Milan are gonna be bad, I've only seen them against Barca (probably best team in the world) and Napoli (definitely one of the best teams in Italy), but I'm just unimpressed. Hopefully Juve and Napoli can really represent Italy in europe, because imo, they are the class of the peninsula.

Foye · Post #36 » by **Foye** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 6:46 am

Doormatt wrote:Man, Milan are really unimpressive. I know they were playing without Ibra, but Abate is average, they still don't have a left back, Nesta and Seedorf have been showing their age and they don't have a player who can control the tempo or win the ball back in midfield. Nocerino is so not top flight quality, at least for a team with winning aspirations. Is flamini injured or something?

Boateng?

Doormatt · Post #37 » by **Doormatt** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:50 am

Ah forgot about him. Yeah he's decent, but nothing special. Tbh I like Romas midfield a lot more than Milans. DDR and Pjanic would both start for them and I think Pizzaro and Gago are as useful as anybody they have. If anything happens to thiago silva they are ****, same for Pato and Ibra.

Foye · Post #38 » by **Foye** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 10:14 am

Doormatt wrote:Ah forgot about him. Yeah he's decent, but nothing special. Tbh I like Romas midfield a lot more than Milans. DDR and Pjanic would both start for them and I think Pizzaro and Gago are as useful as anybody they have. If anything happens to thiago silva they are ****, same for Pato and Ibra.

Milan has declined a lot since the mid 2000's. They're on a solid way of restoring themselves, though. 2 years ago they were a far worse team. Van Bommel may be a scrub technique-wise but he's pretty good at leading and conducting a team. They need an upgrade at left and right midfielder, though.

I'm not a fan of Roma's team. They look like a group of players that don't fit together very well. They also have a lot of overrated old players on their team.
I don't understand signing both Pjanic and Lamela. Pjanic is good, though.
They need another roster overhaul to become a Serie A contender again, IMO.
And what is fatal is that they don't have a lot of high quality players. They have De Rossi who is a world class player. Everyone else is far away from being a difference maker on say Champions League level.
You won't win a Serie A either without at least 3 or 4 close to world class players. I don't see them on Roma's team. And I don't see the potential in their recent transfers to grow into world class players either. (Haven't seen Lamela yet, though).
Right now, you have a solid team but only 1 truely great player. You need more than that to compete with the best teams.

Doormatt · Post #39 » by **Doormatt** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 10:51 am

Milan had "only" 1 or 2 truly world class players and won the scudetto last year! I'm not saying Roma will, but you don't need that much talent to be in contention.

Right now Roma are rebuilding, and they are trying to implement a new style of play, along with a handful of brand new players who are new to Serie A. Obvioiusly players like Perrotta and Taddei have no business on a top team, and even Totti is causing problems by not taking a lesser role, but these are things that we will sort out with a new owner and management. In half a summer the new owners/management have done a better job than sensi/prade did in years!

Pjanic is a class player that much is certain, and judging Lamela by the hype and we little I've seen of him, he also looks to be a world class player as well. Then you have a guy like Jose Angel who is by far the best left back we've had in years, and looks to already be one of the best young fullbacks in Italy. There's a reason Barca were after him. Stenk is a class goalie, which is welcome relief, as Roma have had some of the worst keepers in Serie A the past few years. And I think people shouldn't sleep on Borini, he has good upside IMO, and has looked very good in his first 2 appearances. Kjaer was solid against inter, and was solid his last stint in Italy, I see no reason why that won't continue.

Roma have made massive upgrades to their squad, both in the purchases, and in sales, getting rid of useless players like Doni and Loria, and moving on players who were unsettled like Vuci and Menez.

You have to give Roma some time before you judge them, but based on early signs, I am optimistic to say the least, remember, Juan and Lamela have been unavailable, and our 2 best fullbacks were out. We at least have a goal we are working towards unlike Inter, and we have more potential than a team like Milan (at least imo).

Doormatt · Post #40 » by **Doormatt** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 10:55 am

Btw, Pjanic was a CL difference maker for Lyon, and many of their fans thought he was just as good as Gourcuff. Unlike Prade, Sabatini is bringing in players who arent throwaways for bigger teams.

Who will win the Scudetto?