Roma - Juventus now this is the one that matters ... its a great chance to get in front of Roma and close in on Milan (they are playing Perugia who in my book is a tuff team) One thing is that i believe they are playing at the Olimpico predictions 2-1 .... Di Viao and Trezeguet
They are playing at the Olimpico Dear faBianconeri, They are playing at the Stadio Olimpico. Juve must absolutely win this game to have a decent chance of retaining their crown. Although after this match there will still be 14 games remaining, I get the impression that with the good form being shown by AC Milan, we may have to win at least 10 of them to have a chance finishing ahead of the Rossoneri.
Sorry to start yet another thread on the game (in another team's forum, no less) but the other two threads didn't have [R]s, so I didn't want to post anything about the result there. And not being a mod, I can't add Rs to threads. I'm sure one of them will be kind enough to merge all these threads anyway. I don't really like you guys but I was hoping you could kick Roma in the teeth for me. Instead you got Montero sent off, Trez missed a penalty, and you lost 4-0 Totti with a penalty, Cassano with a couple of goals, and Dacourt had the 4th. Not one of Juve's best games; I guess you need del Piero more than I thought. Hopefully you can recover to give Milan and Roma a race for their money. I hate Roma and a two team challenge would be more fun.
Things look grim but there is still a long way to go. Dear Nicephoras, I can feel your disappointment. Juve badly needed to win this game to remain in contention for lo scudetto. But let's look on the bright side: there are still 42 points to play for. Secondly, AC Milan may have won seven consecutive games, but in the unpredictable world of Italian football, there is no guarantee that they can maintain the same breakneck pace until season's end. Thirdly, Juve have yet to go on their trademark six, seven, or eight-game winning run. Unfortunately, AS Roma have dealt us a major psychological blow. Right now, Lippi must call upon his charges to call upon their experience. This is probably the worst predicament Juve have been in since I became a Bianconero.
It's pretty clear, and not just with this game, how flat Juve looks. The Roma game heavily skews that perspective right now, as Juve had just about everything cave in on them -- two strikers who had to be scratched from the game, a red card, how penalty kicks went on both ends of the pitch, etc. It didn't take this Roma game to highlight how atrocious their defense is. Even in last week's Chievo match, there were some awful lapses that were worse alarms than what I saw in this Roma game. But key playmakers like Trezeguet, Nedved, Del Piero, etc. -- they all seem mostly tired, weak, and/or playing hurt more recently. There are exceptions like Buffon and Zambrotta who are trying to hold together what they can, but they can't do it alone. You really have to look at their team play right now. The fact is, I don't see it. There are occasional individual performances, but there is no sum that's as good as -- let alone better than -- its parts. Lippi has his hands full, as Juve is playing like a group of highly-touted, recent transfers with very little experience playing together.
On the bright side, Juve can give up on Serie A, and focus on winning the Coppa Italia and Champions League. I think we have at least 4th place in Serie A clinched.
No bright side on this end of the horizon, sorry. Pinpointing Juve's problems would take too long to analyse cause there are so many. CL is not as abusive as Serie A (for obvious reasons) but the way Juve are playing right now they would be severely punished in any tournament, CL or even UEFA. Just pray that Depor isn't watching the video tape replays; I know they're not exactly Roma quality but they have the determination and know-how to defeat Juve. The way Roma outclassed Juve today I think exposes some old and very obscure traditions that Juve has resurrected these last 6 years. i.e. buying cheap and stamina packed players + enforcing tactics that are devised simply to contain opposing players who can create alot of midfield activity etc. I think Juve (besides Del Piero) has always lacked artistic presense cause those players tend to be a tad more expensive. Juve will remain a financial powerhouse and may even take the Scudetto home for a 3rd consecutive time; but those are things that can be forgotten. Instead I prefer to remember the brilliance and motivation seen in players who devote themselves to their team and can keep an image at the same time. I remember coaches who care about pride, and I'll always remember fantastic victories like the 4-0 win I witnessed today.
I could be wrong, but I think that a big problem today was in the midfield. Roma constantly won the ball in the midfield and started a lot of of their attack in that manner. I and the guys I was watching the game with in the pub were all thinking that Davids could have been a big help. Wasn't Appiah supposed to be his replacement?
i agree roma is not a small club but it seems like that compared to teams like juve, thats why this kind of victories taste even better.
heres my prediction: the tough as nails Juventus defense goes down 4-0 on goals by Dacourt, Totti, and lets say....ok, 2 by the wunderkind Cassano. yeah sounds about right. and i also think Juve will get a shot at a penalty, but Pelizzoli will deny Trezeguet. 4-0. FORZA ROMA. hahahha
HAHAHAHAHA .... that was a good one .... ever heard of miss cleo ... grrrrr Juve .... grrrr Montero .... all of romas goals were pure luck ... but they got them in and we didnt. juve needs to start praying.
I was at the game on Sunday in Curva Sud with all my *#*#*#*#ing Romanisti friends. It was pure hell. The worst of it all is when you are in that section of the stadium, you have to pretend that you are a Roma fan.
hah ... sorry again on another note ... roma seems to like beating on all the bianconeri teams ... they beat siena 6-0 geeeeez