AS Roma - la Magica dell' Italia

[Xeneize]

3 PAGES?! What are you guys planning?!

[r0000ney]

He means three posts

[DannyB]

Where's Curci in the squad list?

[r0000ney]

He moved to Siena in the summer Danny. You like the thread so far?

[DannyB]

Yeah it's good.

Still doing your United one??

[r0000ney]

Very slowly, yes

[barajma92]

First posts are awesome!

KUTGW!

[r0000ney]

Originally Posted by r0000ney

Serie A Team of the Season

Now let’s take one last look back at the 07/08 campaign before we move on to the next exciting Serie A season. Here I will be selecting my eleven best players based on last season’s Serie A. I have chosen to use a 4-3-3 system.

Goalkeeper – Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina)
As usual there have been some outstanding performances in the Italian top tier by some of the world’s greatest goalkeepers. There were three which stood out above the rest – Gigi Buffon, Julio Cesar and Sebastien Frey. The latter has been consistently better than the other two, as Fiorentina’s attacking style of play has meant he has had to always be on his game, always be ready. While Juve and Inter both had successful seasons, Frey didn’t have the same solid defence in front of him, and with some match-winning saves to push Fiorentina to a Champions League spot above AC Milan, their first since the late 90s.

Right-Back – Maicon (Internazionale)

This decision was just as difficult. The outsider was Christian Maggo, whose displays for Sampdoria have been consistently excellent, earning himself a transfer to Napoli this summer. Two players from Internazionale, Maicon and Javier Zannetti the captain have both had outstanding seasons, especially attacking. However Maicon has established himself as the first choice right-back for the champions while Zannetti has moved into a more central role. Therefore Maicon, as one of the best full-backs in the world, is my right-back.

Centre-Back – Philipe Mexes (AS Roma)
This one was without question. Mexes has proven himself as one of the world’s best, and arguably the strongest defender in Italy last season, leading Roma to a second place finish closely behind Inter. He also has excellent technical skill, and has quietly developed into Roma’s rock following the departure of Christian Chivu last summer.

Centre-Back – Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)

There were a lot of candidates for this position. Ivan Corboda at Inter looked to have secured his place in this team with solid performances until he was injured. Following his injury Inter kept just one clean sheet in their next eight games and almost threw away their 11 point lead over Roma. Then there was Paulo Cannavaro, younger brother of Fabio, whose defensive performances led Napoli to a top half finish and an Intertoto Cup spot. But Giorgio Chiellini has been magnificent since his switch to centre-back from left-back and has cemented his place in the national side. He is considered the next Fabio Cannavaro, and at only 23, is looking it.

Left-Back – Juan Manuel Vargas (Catania)

Chiellini could quite easily have fit into this position, but Vargas has had a terrific last season for Catania, especially going forward. His long-range strike is one of the best around, having scored five goals this season. Vargas has been compared by the club’s fans to Roberto Carlos for his rampaging runs down the left wing and a lethal left foot. A move to a big club is imminent.

Defensive-Midfielder – Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma)

Despite a poor disciplinary record, the 25 year-old has come into his own this season; his strong tackling, brilliant range of passing, and venomous long-range shot make him one of the best all-round midfielders around. He is playing for his hometown team and is one of the favourites to take over the captaincy from Francesco Totti. Despite his young age, he has already captained Italy in friendlies against South Africa and Portugal.

Defensive-Midfielder – Javier Zannetti (Internazionale)

While Cambiasso had another tireless season and held together the midfield, his partner Javier Zannetti was even better as captain. He was the most consistent player for Inter over the 07/08 season, and in fact his whole career, and Il Trattore remains a fans favourite. There is an element of class in everything he does both on and off the field, and he once again deserves his place in the team of the season.

Central-Midfielder – Marek Hamsik (Napoli)

At only 20 years of age, Marek Hamsik has had a breathtaking season, from which he has attracted the attention of most of Europe’s top clubs including Inter, Juve, Barcelona, Chelsea and Lyon. He has been a key player in Napoli’s rise up the table, finishing as top scorer for the side. He has been labelled the new Pavel Nedved who he idolises, and Napoli will have a tough time keeping hold of him this summer.

Forward – Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)

In his best season since 1997/98, Alessandro Del Piero has once again proved the critics wrong by scoring 21 goals in 32 starts, finishing as top scorer in Serie A. The 33 year-old has also shown leadership and creativity as well has his goal-scoring instinct and he undoubtedly earns a place in this eleven.

Forward – Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina)

Sebastian Giovinco was a revelation on loan to Empoli, as was Alexandre Pato at Milan. Trezuguet and Ibrahimovic have both continued their phenomenal goalscoring form, but I have left them all out for Adrian Mutu. Following the departure of Luca Toni to Bayern Munich, Adrian Mutu has had to do it all on his own, spearheading the Fiorentina attack, and now spearheading this team’s attack. He has scored 17 goals in 26 games for La Viola in Serie A, and 6 in 8 in the UEFA Cup.

Forward – Antonio Di Natale (Udinese)

Keeping out Borreilio on loan to Genoa from AC Milan, Di Natale has captained Udinese to a UEFA Cup spot and scored 17 goals in the process. He is fast, brave, and imaginative, and has shown his versatility by playing both as a striker and on the wings, dropping deep and scoring freely. He is now a regular for the Azzuri, and the 30 year-old is no doubt going to play a big part in the near future of Italian football.

Final Team:

Bumped this for you to talk about: do you agree? Who would you have in?

[Chelsea11]

WOW! r0000ney this is an absolutely A-M-A-Z-I-N-G start!!!!! The graphics on the OP look very nice too! Great work!

[r0000ney]

Originally Posted by Chelsea11

WOW! r0000ney this is an absolutely A-M-A-Z-I-N-G start!!!!! The graphics on the OP look very nice too! Great work!

Originally Posted by barajma92

First posts are awesome!

KUTGW!

Cheers and also thanks to whoever voted this five star. To all: do you agree with the team of the season?

[.DJ]

looks like this is going to be a wonder-thread

[jimbles90]

just wow

brilliant work, just read through it all!

that team of the year looks about right to me

[Robalenko]

Shouldn't you have asked Julian before making that type of opening post?

[r0000ney]

Originally Posted by D1J

looks like this is going to be a wonder-thread

Originally Posted by jimbles90

just wow

brilliant work, just read through it all!

that team of the year looks about right to me

Originally Posted by Robbie8912Play

Shouldn't you have asked Julian before making that type of opening post?

Yeah I think you're right, we just tried to do the same sort of start as all the other collab threads seem to be doing. It's not identical to his Barca thread, but looking back over it I see what you mean. I'll PM him now, thanks Robbie!

[r0000ney]

Cassano - I Miss Roma


Ex-Roma forward Antonio Cassano has declared he wants to move back to the capital side before the end of the transfer window. He left Roma in January 2006 to join Real Madrid after disputes over his contract and a conflict with club captain Francesco Totti, but he didn't enjoy his stay in Spain, developing unhealthy eating habits and disrespect towards manager Fabio Capello. Back then he declared that he would 'walk all the way back' to rejoin Roma, but remained at Madrid due to injury. In the summer of 2007 he joined Sampdoria on loan, where he displayed the form of his Roma days, helping them to UEFA Cup qualification.

Now that Cassano is out of contract at Real Madrid, Sampdoria have expressed a desire to sign him on a permanent basis, but the Italian international wants to play for Roma. This follows news that Cassano and Totti have settled their differences and have been in frequent contact with each other. That's certainly one way to get into a team - make friends with a club legend. Roma have yet to express desire to sign Cassano from under the noses of Sampdoria but the move is looking more and more likely.

[Chelsea11]

nice story, Cassano would be a nice signing

[VillaTillIDie]

Great story, he would be a nice signing as long as he changes his attitude. .

[xRonaldinhox10x]

Great story there with Cassano wanting to go to Roma.

[r0000ney]

Roma Linked with Chelsea Starlet Rajkovic


Reports coming from the Stadio Olimpico suggest that Roma have made a bid for Chelsea youngster Slobodan Rajkovic. The Serbian international signed for the club in November 2005 for a fee of €5.2m, when he was just 16. Rajkovic plays as a centre half and has good physical attributes, at 6'3". Since joining Chelsea, he has not made a single appearance for the English side, having been loaned out to OFK Beograd where he started his career and then PSV Eindhoven. He is recognised as one of the most talented young defenders, breaking into the Serbian under-21 team at just 16 and becoming a regular starter. He has also made three appearances for the national side and scored a goal.

It is rumoured that Rajkovic is unhappy at Chelsea and wants to sign a permanent contract with a team where he will make more appearances. "I want to feel a part of the team I'm playing for; at PSV everyone knew I would be returning to Chelsea at the end of the season and it was awkward in the dressing room that way," the Serbian said earlier this week. "If Chelsea must loan me out, I want to be there for more than just a year or two. I'd like to sign a long term deal with a club, but I'm confused about who wants me and where." Roma will face competition from Villarreal and PSV for his signature.

[r0000ney]

Originally Posted by Chelsea11

nice story, Cassano would be a nice signing

Nice comment

Originally Posted by VillaTillIDie

Great story, he would be a nice signing as long as he changes his attitude. .

I don't think he will, expect more controversy if we do decide to sign him.

Originally Posted by xRonaldinhox10x

Great story there with Cassano wanting to go to Roma.

Great comment there with xRonaldinhox10x wanting to praise me

[Chelsea11]

hehe nice target!!

[VillaTillIDie]

Originally Posted by r0000ney

I don't think he will, expect more controversy if we do decide to sign him.

What a lalalalaer. .

[Robalenko]

Originally Posted by r0000ney

Yeah I think you're right, we just tried to do the same sort of start as all the other collab threads seem to be doing. It's not identical to his Barca thread, but looking back over it I see what you mean. I'll PM him now, thanks Robbie!

He'll be very pleased about that. Thankfully throughout all the 5 post OP's that are starting in most threads now, mine remains the first, and original one. And no one has taken my layout

Carry on

[mixedtapex16]

Amazing start and great stories. I'll be reading

[10Totti10]

^they would be great signings

Keep Totti till season 5..he starts to lose it then