Archive for April, 2007

Since I have nothing to add to the channel4 derby preview, I am brining it as in the original. Just a short note perhaps that yesterday, as usual on Thursdays, Lazio played a friendly in Formello against Bretti and won 10-0. Rocchi and Tare scored 3 goals each, Makinwa 2 and Zauri / Stendardo scored one each. Mauri did not play at all while Pandev was not in form at all. Here is the match preview:

An explosive Derby della Capitale is in prospect at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday as second-placed Roma look to wrestle bragging rights from third-placed Lazio.

The Scudetto dream may be dead but this game is no less crucial for the Roma fans and players. Despite the inevitable sense of anti-climax, Luciano Spalletti’s side will be desperate to avenge Week 15’s shock defeat against the old enemy and guarantee a second-placed finish in the process.

After a superb campaign, the Lupi owe it to themselves to finish with a fluourish and also need to remain upbeat ahead of the imminent Coppa Italia Final clash with Inter. Victory here would be just the boost they need.

Lazio have exceeded pre-season expectations and look set to join their neighbours in next season’s Champions League. The Biancocelesti are going from strength to strength under Delio Rossi and despite last weekend’s 1-0 defeat against Fiorentina, they hold a seven-point advantage over fifth-placed Palermo.

Having shared the spoils with Ascoli and Chievo, and with Inter still to play in a fortnight’s time, the Aquile may be running out of steam. While overhauling Roma and stealing automatic qualification for the Champions League group stage looks unrealistic, a win would seal a glorious double over their bitter rivals which would live long in the memory.

December’s derby day saw Lazio stun Spalletti’s men 3-0. Cristian Ledesma excelled and opened the scoring with a vicious swerving strike. Unfortunately, events on the pitch were once again marred by violent scenes in and around the stadium.

Roma face a nervous wait to see whether the talismanic Francesco Totti will be available. The Giallorossi’s captain missed out against Atalanta and has been absent from training with a back problem, but he’s likely to start even if he’s not fully fit. Marco Cassetti is suspended and is joined by Matteo Ferrari after a harsh dismissal last weekend. However, Philippe Mexes, Amantino Mancini and David Pizarro all return from bans.

Rossi must do without midfielders Stefano Mauri and Gaby Mudingayi – who are sidelined – and is waiting on a late fitness test to see whether Guglielmo Stendardo can shake off a muscular problem. Brazilian stopper Emilson Cribari is back from injury, but after two months of inactivity is unlikely to return in a derby.

  http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0607/rom-laz.html

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Fiorentina once again spoiled our series of defeat less matches. They did it in the first leg and the repeated it yesterday in Olimpico. This time totally without deserving it.

Well losing a match when playing so nice is difficult to swallow. Especially in the first half, this Lazio team without 5 starters (Zauri, Behrami, Cribari, Mudingayi, Mauri and even without Stendardo) proved to be one hell of an opponent for Fiorentina. Rocchi was brilliant hitting the post as well as engaging Frey in at least several other occasions. Other players were doing just fine too. The ball just didn`t want to get into the net. Fiorentina was playing a typical closed match and I was even surprised we managed to create so many chances.

In the second half Prandelli must have warned his players that continuation of such a match will be a disaster therefore they played a bit smarter pushing our midfielders higher. Mutu scored the only goal after Peruzzi`s indecision on Jorgensen`a pass. After the goal, Delio Rossi inserted Tare for Makinwa as well as Pandev who got in earlier a bit for Jimenez. However, we could not score despite some two clear chances from Pandev and Rocchi.

All in all, it was a disappointing result after playing such a nice match. Our clinical finishing which is lacking once again after being our main weapon in the 8 win-in-a-row series (see Udinese match for example). Nevertheless, after Palermo`s defeat at home against Parma, it looks like we are certain of a CL place. However, no team should be underestimated.

Here is the match report from Channel4

It appears that the saga of our goalkeeper Matteo Sereni have come to an end. Our lawyer Gentile yesterday admitted that Sereni did not accept the new 5 year contract extension and will be playing for another team in the next season.

To be honest, I really hoped that the club and Sereni would find an agreement, especially since Peruzzi is so prone to injuries and Ballotta just too old to consider him as a first goalie, or have a serious number of games played. Likewise, it appears that the club owns Sereni an amount of 950,000 Euros.

On the other hand, another former Lecce player (now with Juve and owned for Fiorentinta) Bulgarian ace Valeri Boinov expressed his desire and readiness to play for us and meet up his former coach Delio Rossi. After Chevanton, this is the second player who wants to reunite with our current coach Rossi. No one knows whatever will become of these rumors especially since we already have 5 attackers and unless 2 of the leave, I find it extremely difficult for another one to arrive.

All in all, it appears that Delio Rossi has left some good impression upon his former players as almost every one wants to reunite with him.

Ok, we face Ascoli at Stadio De Luca, the bottom team in the standing in what could easily be a historic win for Lazio as this team would equal the record set by Eriksson`s team in 99-00 season, that is, 9 wins in a row.

Delio Rossi will be without Behrami (out for yellow cards) as well as Mutarelli and Cribari who are yet to recover from the injuries which are keeping them out for over a month now. However, Ledesma will be back after serving a one game suspension against Messina last Saturday. Lazio has to maintain the winning record if they wish to ensure a place in the Champions League next season. Considering our form in the last 2-3 months, meeting Ascoli could not be a difficult thing especially taking into consideration the home side`s grave situation in the standings, however, the team must remain focused and be as clinical as possible in finishing.

Rossi is expected to field the following 11:

Peruzzi; Belleri-Stendardo-Siviglia-Zauri; Mudingayi-Ledesma-Manfredini; Mauri; Pandev-Rocchi.

A full match preview from channel4 can be found here.

When the inform central defender Emilson Cribari got injured over a month ago, most of us, Lazio fans and probable the coach Rossi started to wonder whether his obvious replacement Stendardo would be able to fill in his shoes.

However, Stendardo not only showed a fantastic form in defending which is his main duty, but what is more he scored in two consecutive matches, against Udinese (the opener) and more important the winner against Messina last Saturday. For this reason, he has earned a seperate entry in my blog. Regardless if we purchase any new central defender in the summer, I really wish he stays with us for some time.

Here are Stendardo`s previous clubs:

Sorry for this interruption, but I cannot ignore the last night`s happening in Manchester. Our cousins were really happy after beating the English team 2-1 last week. If they knew what was waiting for them in England they would never even make the trip. hahahahahah.