2013

[Doormatt]

Roma did well to cash in on potential that they obviously didn't need; I'll take Destro over him any day

Destro is fantastic though, I agree.

I don't watch Serie A Is Destro as good as the stats say he is?

Mostly. He's still really young for an Italian striker. His only weakness is his aerial ability, which hasn't been much of a problem since Roma play entirely on the ground.

[Doormatt]

Obiang is a great center mid...for me he is Sampdoria's best player besides Gabbiadini

Obiang, Mustafi, Icardi... How do Sampdoria keep poaching these guys?

Obiang and Icardi were both from their youth academy

[White+Purple]

With 22 goals in 40 appearances for Roma, the stats may be a tad bit generous in that regard. But he's a classy player, damn good finisher

Mostly. He's still really young for an Italian striker. His only weakness is his aerial ability, which hasn't been much of a problem since Roma play entirely on the ground.

So will he score a goal every game next season?

[Doormatt]

If he's healthy he can easily score 25+ goals with the way roma play. He will split time with totti and whoever we buy this summer, so I'm not ready to say a goal a game type production.

[White+Purple]

If he's healthy he can easily score 25+ goals with the way roma play. He will split time with totti and whoever we buy this summer, so I'm not ready to say a goal a game type production.

Thank you

[Ted Lasso]

Obiang is a great center mid...for me he is Sampdoria's best player besides Gabbiadini

Obiang, Mustafi, Icardi... How do Sampdoria keep poaching these guys?

Obiang and Icardi were both from their youth academy

They poached Obiang from Atletico Madrid at the age of 16 and Icardi from Barcelona at the age of 18.

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/mauro ... 68863.html
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/pedro ... 01213.html

[cgf]

Well Ljajic is a winger mostly so he's not behind destro, just Florenzi. He's a quality player and has really turned it on the past few weeks. Sometimes he looks like a world class player others like he couldn't be less interested. Overall he's too inconsistent and I think if a nice offer >20mil comes in then roma will take it. Of course this is assuming that we buy a winger this summer like Iturbe or Sanchez, then Ljajic will be expendable.

I dunno honestly it will come down to what Rudi wants, but I don't see ljajic as a core member of this team.

Ah, as I said I haven't watched you guys much and so figured that Destro was doing his damage coming off the wing with Totti vacating the middle as a false 9.

Interesting that he seems to be having that problem since he seemed like such a consistently tenacious force for Fiorentina. I've seen him with the serbian set up as well and been very impressed which is why I'm so curious about him, that and my weird recent fascination with german clubs picking up guys from certain NTs that I think are on the rise like Belgium, Switzerland and Serbia.

Can't see an offer over 20, although if he could be had for closer to 15 I think a team like Schalke could be very interested if Draxler gets sold.

So with the Immobile to Dortmund rumors coming pretty steadily since Volland announced he wouldn't be going anywhere this summer I'm wondering if you guys could tell me a little more about him. Does he have the workrate, pace and ability to combine on the run to fit their high flying style? Or is he Inzaghi'ing it up with pure-poaching?

Also is there any word from italian circles about Ljajic? I've seen a few german clubs have looked at him and he's a player I like a lot, and so would love to see come to germany, especially if Schalke snag him should they sell Draxler seeing as he seemed to be behind Gervinho and the explosion from Destro.

PPS and any thoughts on Obiang? Hoffenheim are said to be looking at him or Schwegler to join their midfield and they could certainly use a big skilled body deeper so their weak backline isn't as exposed next season.

Immobile in my opinion is the perfect fit for Dortmund. Great movement/work rate, can score in every possible way.

I have read rumors throughout the season that Llajic will leave Roma, but those stories are probably speculation because he is expendable compared to their other attacking players. He is super talented but I don't think he'll ever really fulfill his potential.

Obiang is a great center mid...for me he is Sampdoria's best player besides Gabbiadini

I'm glad to hear that, that his workrate and movement off ball where things I liked off limited viewing but I wasn't sure if that was just me catching him on the right day, or what. Do you think he has the skill to combine with Reus, Miki and Auba/Kuba/Jojic when they run? Cause that's been a huge part of lewy's great play for them, not only can he lead the pressing, hold up the ball, and score in tight spaces in the box, but he's also great when they're running at times at playing quick passes with the other speedsters on that team.

Yeah the closest thing to a firm rumor I've read was that Ljajic was one of the players Schalke had scouts looking at when it looked like Draxler could be sold. But little in the way of any actual transfer-discussion. He just really impressed me in purple and seemed like a kid who really played balls to wall. Another case of non-extensive viewings creating false impressions I guess.

And Sampdoria are a club I've hardly ever seen and never really focused on so I have no clue on Obiang's strengths, he's more of a box to box kind of guy who can get forward, or more of a holder/passer who sits deep? Hoffenheim really need someone who can anchor that midfield as they have a few guys who work well being able to push forward with their skill but no one who's really good sitting deeper other than Rudy, and he's not good enough defensively to anchor them, even if his passing range is very good from the deeper spots.

[cgf]

Obiang is a great center mid...for me he is Sampdoria's best player besides Gabbiadini

Obiang, Mustafi, Icardi... How do Sampdoria keep poaching these guys?

Mustafi's weird, every time I've seen him in our youth set ups I've been highly unimpressed, and yet he's one of the few young players to go abroad since Ozil/Khedira who seems to actually be excelling in a different league other than Schurrle, and such an odd route, from HSV's youth team to Everton's second side to Sambdoria where he started 30 games this season just so atypical in everything. Merkel's bounced around italy for a little while now and doesn't seem to be making much progress, Holtby's trip to england has been a disaster, why Chelsea thought buying Marin was anything other than stupid is anyone's guess and I guess the arsenal kids are doing well so far, but lets see where they go when its time to move on from the youth teams permanently.

[Doormatt]

Well Ljajic is a winger mostly so he's not behind destro, just Florenzi. He's a quality player and has really turned it on the past few weeks. Sometimes he looks like a world class player others like he couldn't be less interested. Overall he's too inconsistent and I think if a nice offer >20mil comes in then roma will take it. Of course this is assuming that we buy a winger this summer like Iturbe or Sanchez, then Ljajic will be expendable.

I dunno honestly it will come down to what Rudi wants, but I don't see ljajic as a core member of this team.

Ah, as I said I haven't watched you guys much and so figured that Destro was doing his damage coming off the wing with Totti vacating the middle as a false 9.

Interesting that he seems to be having that problem since he seemed like such a consistently tenacious force for Fiorentina. I've seen him with the serbian set up as well and been very impressed which is why I'm so curious about him, that and my weird recent fascination with german clubs picking up guys from certain NTs that I think are on the rise like Belgium, Switzerland and Serbia.

Can't see an offer over 20, although if he could be had for closer to 15 I think a team like Schalke could be very interested if Draxler gets sold.

destro is a true striker. hes better than a lot of strikers though with his movement and link play, so he is capable of playing on the wing or in the false 9 role, but its very far from ideal.

roma bought ljajic for somewhere between 11-15 million, i cant see them just breaking even on a guy with as much potential as he has. it doesnt have to be over 20, but something around 18/19/20 million sounds about what we would let him go for. anything over 20 has to be instantly accepted i imagine, hes just not worth the headache.

i mean hes a really talented player, theres a lot to be impressed by. but i wouldnt want him as a core member of my team honsetly. lets just say there is a reason roma are shopping for another winger.

[cgf]

That's good to know, although I suppose if it's Schalke bringing him in after a Draxler sale he wouldn't so much be part of the core, as he would be rotating with Sam, Farfan on the wings with cameo's from their many youngstars that haven't broken into the team yet like Meyer did and Goretzka was starting to. And while I don't trust Keller to sort out his ass from a hole in the ground the rest of that organization is great with young players and helping them really get their games right. And even after paying off the last of their debts they should have some good money to spend, especially if they also sell Papadoupoulous soon.

[Doormatt]

That's good to know, although I suppose if it's Schalke bringing him in after a Draxler sale he wouldn't so much be part of the core, as he would be rotating with Sam, Farfan on the wings with cameo's from their many youngstars that haven't broken into the team yet like Meyer did and Goretzka was starting to. And while I don't trust Keller to sort out his ass from a hole in the ground the rest of that organization is great with young players and helping them really get their games right. And even after paying off the last of their debts they should have some good money to spend, especially if they also sell Papadoupoulous soon.

BUT with all that said i dont think roma will be selling him this summer, unless like i said an offer too tempting to refuse comes in. Roma need the depth and really he deserves another season to prove himself before we pass judgement on him. i think roma will afford him that season and make a decision after that towards his future.

[cgf]

Yeah, I don't think Draxler gets sold this summer either so this would probably be a move made next summer, shame though would love to get all those exciting young serbs in this league asap, although I suppose I shouldn't complain with how many fun young Swiss and belgians we've brought in lately.

[Doormatt]

too bad this juve roma game will be meaningless, wouldve been cool to see them play with something on the line other than pride.

[magik9113]

http://football-italia.net/48968/cuadra ... break-down

Negotiations between Fiorentina and Udinese for Juan Cuadrado are said to have broken down.

The Zebrette own 50 per cent of the Viola winger, and reports have indicated that the two clubs have been in talks about completing a deal that would see the Colombia international sign with Vicenzo Montella’s men permanently.

However, Corriere Fiorentina have suggested that the two teams have now cut off negotiations with the pair seemingly unwilling to meet on a price.

Udinese want €10m for the other half of Cuadrado – a price the Stadio Artemio Franchi outfit deem too much.

It is now claimed that the wide man will leave Fiorentina at the end of the season, with Barcelona and Juventus thought to be interested.

[cgf]

Also curious about Berardi if y'all get a minute, Werder and Hoffenheim have both apparently scouted him and he looks really interesting on paper, with Juve seeming interested in using some of the forwards they own 50% of to raise funds for the summer and all...

Kinda rooting for Hoppenheim to pull off the italian moves they've been linked to in recent weeks. They wrapped up Schwegler and Baumann should be done shortly, so all they'll need is a CB to play with Sule that isn't Abraham, been linked to Mustafi, Paletta and Kouyate who'd all fit the bill. Then they'd have their holes filled with room for Obiang and Berardi to come in and upgrade at their respective spots. Would leave them with a very fun team that's not also horribad at keeping balls out of their own net as a Volland, Firmino and Berardi front three seem like they could work magic together with Obiang, Rudy/Salihovic and Schwegler feeding them.

[Doormatt]

edit: sorry was thinking of someone else entirely.


but yeah i doubt juve are gonna sell berardi. 16 goals in 27 apps and hes only 19 years old, kid has a really bright future.

[Foye]

edit: sorry was thinking of someone else entirely.


but yeah i doubt juve are gonna sell berardi. 16 goals in 27 apps and hes only 19 years old, kid has a really bright future.

There really is no point in selling him.

[cgf]

*shrug* I wouldn't have thought juve would want to sell immobile yet here we are with them and BVB trying to pressure Turin into selling their half for a reasonable price so juve can get their cash.

[Man of Steel]

How about that Di Natale goal.

[Doormatt]

slightly ironic that osvlado scores a last gasp goal against us. i felt we were clearly the better side for most of the match, but alas this was not romas year. regardless was a great season, very much looking forward to next season, should be the first time roma are relevant since 2007 on the world stage.