De Rossi

[Beefymcfc]

Still on, are you sure? Actually, was it ever?

From the horses, as they say.
_____________________________________

FOREIGN LURE
Today I can tell you the truth, in this conference that I hold every year. I couldn't speak in Irdning because I was trying to work out how far the rumours would go, I wanted to square the circle. I didn't speak about it while I was with Italy out of respect for you. I decided to speak up today but I have no intention of launching World War 3. If we're talking about interest shown by other teams, I think you always gets offers for important players. And this is where I feel I must speak my mind: I'm here, I'm happy in Rome and I've never asked to move. There's been talk about messages with Mancini, phone calls and supposed quotes: all sorts of things have been written. While certain articles just make me smile because they are always written by the same people, with whom I'm already wrangling in the courts, others are more serious and might make people think bad of me. The only thing I can promise is that the day I wish to leave Roma – though I doubt that will happen because I'm 29 – I'll come here and take responsibility for my decision. I'll say “I want to leave.” But I've never said that, not to the directors of Roma nor to the directors of any other club. That's the truth and I hope you believe it. I hope that the integrity I've shown throughout my career backs me up in this sense. I have never asked to leave Roma.

NOT FOR SALE
It's difficult to quantify what you would call an indecent proposal because some people think I'm worth 100 and others 0. I think what Sabatini said, that nobody can be considered not for sale, is true and we've always seen that in football. In the past people like Zidane and other players just as good as him have been sold, so my position could certainly be in doubt if a huge offer were to come in. I know that lots of fans are very fond of me - we saw that at the stadium during the friendly the other night. And I think I would always like to be seen as important not only because I'm from Rome but also because I'm a good footballer.

FIRM OFFERS
The club that you all know enquired about me, although I could name a few others that showed less substantial interest. Something started happening during the Euros but the biggest steps were taken by the club you all know about. Relations with Mancini? My agent is always my contact. I speak to him and he works in my interest. I've only spoken to Mancini one time. I told him what I thought. There's mutual respect between us and I hope he does well but he's not a friend I speak to regularly. Was there a lot of pressure? It was more a media thing and it was soon over. Somebody even quoted Mancini as having said something like “If you stay at Roma you'll end up the same way as Totti.” He never said those words to me. As far as I know, the City manager rates Totti massively. The captain will end his career with at least one Scudetto and I would sign right now to have the same. Admittedly that's not a lot for a player like him: I think he deserves bigger rewards. I'm a good player but I'm not as talented as he is. Winning a Scudetto in the next five years would mean rounding off my career in the best way possible, although I'd rather win five of course!

CHOICES
Has the club ever thought about selling me? That's obviously a question I think the club should answer. But I know that the club consider me to be a very important player and not long ago they gave me a huge contract, involving figures that we're unlikely to see in Italy in the near future. From my own perspective, I made my choice five months ago – in many ways I made it 30 years ago when I was born – but I can confirm that choice now. Five months ago when I signed it was snowing; I haven't changed my mind now that there's a a 40°C heat and it's summer. My opinion doesn't change with the weather! As I said, I've never thought about leaving. What would I do if the club wanted to sell me? I've always told my agent and the clubs who were interested in me the same thing, that I wanted to stay here. If for whatever reason I no longer figured in the club's plans, depending on the reason I would consider my options. For example, I remember the Nesta situation years ago: Lazio were in serious financial trouble and had no choice but to sell him, and he accepted the situation. But I don't think that's the case at Roma at the moment.

SATISFACTION WITH THE CLUB'S WORK
At Cesena after our final game last season I was asked what Roma needed to be competitive in the future. I said that investments were needed and investments have been made over the last few months. Players that were wanted by other clubs have ended up here. Not just a great striker and a great full-back but also other players I didn't know before and who I'm getting to know now. In that sense an answer has been given. Obviously it's sad that certain players who were part of the old guard here in Trigoria have left: Heinze, Cassetti, Pizarro, Okaka and so on. Those lads gave a lot to our old group both on the pitch and in the dressing room. But now lots of excellent players have come in and it's with these players that we can start afresh. I think we “old” players can and must help to rebuild the good things we had in the past.

TRANSFER DEALINGS
There isn't one player in particular I've been impressed by. They are all good. I knew Destro and Balzaretti well before but the nicest surprise has been Piris and Tachtsidis as they were players I didn't know before, though I wouldn't like to be forgetting anyone. Bradley? He's even better than I thought. But let's not forget Lamela, Bojan and Osvaldo, who have wonderful attacking ability and could do incredible things playing Zeman's football. Romagnoli? He hasn't just been discovered because my father coached him in the Primavera and I knew what a player he was. I hope that he and people like Marquinhos are ready to perform well.

ZEMAN
It was written in the papers that I have problems with the coach. That is a total lie. On a personal level I got on very well with the previous coach, Luis Enrique. That's true and I hoped we could be successful with him on the pitch but it didn't turn out like that – though for what it's worth I am convinced that he could have become a success. Then when they were deciding on the new coach and there was talk of it being between Montella and Zeman, if I have to be completely honest initially I hoped it would be Montella because I knew him well and I thought I might have some problems with Zeman. But I've got to know him now over the weeks and he's totally different to the person I thought he was. He's a lovely person, much more so than you might expect him to be, and I get on really well with him. As for the work on the pitch, yeah it's tough and we have to run a lot, but I think in the end it motivates us.

[Risby]

Here's a related article by Michael Cox of Zonal Marking fame:

[url="http://www.zonalmarking.net/"]http://www.zonalmarking.net/[/url]

There was plenty of amusement earlier in the season when Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini suggested that he needed another central midfielder. A few hundred million spent, Roberto, and you need yet another player?

Yet it makes perfect sense, and partially explains why Man City have struggled in Europe this season, in comparison to their astonishing dominance in the Premier League. They have almost everything in the attacking department – finishing ability (Edin Dzeko), pace and power (Mario Balotelli), creativity (David Silva and Samir Nasri), intelligent running (James Milner), a deep-lying forward (Sergio Agüero) and tricky wing play (Adam Johnson). They also have Yaya Touré’s strength from the centre of the pitch, plus good support from full-back.

The one thing Man City lack is a top-quality deep-lying midfield playmaker – a ‘regista’, as Mancini would call them.

They have Nigel De Jong, who is one of the best in Europe at breaking up attacks, and is reliable with his short-range passing. There’s also Gareth Barry, who has enjoyed a decent opening to the season, but his form has been greeted with a mixture of praise and surprise, rather confirming the feeling that he’s not quite of the standard City need. Look at recent winners of the Champions League and they have almost always had one of the world’s best at creating play from deep – Xavi Hernández, Andrea Pirlo, Paul Scholes and Xabi Alonso spring to mind. Barry, with respect, is not in that class. No side can be a complete attacking force, but it is arguable that this type of player is even more important to a side’s attacking potential than talented wingers or strikers.

It is certainly not easy to defend against City, but sides like Everton and Napoli have shown that sitting deep and getting players goalside of the City midfield is the obvious approach to stopping them. At present, there’s no need to close down Barry and De Jong – they’re not going to open up your defence. Joleon Lescott and Vincent Kompany are decent on the ball but no more (although Kompany did play a superb volleyed diagonal pass for Belgium at the weekend) – so there’s little incisiveness from deep positions. Having someone like Pirlo forces the opposition midfield to come higher up the pitch to close down, therefore leaving gaps between the lines, or in behind the defence, for others to exploit.

Mancini’s surprise decision to sign Owen Hargreaves indicates his need for extra bodies in that zone, but even the most optimistic City fan won’t be expecting him to have a consistent impact on the side. Therefore, City might look to strengthen this area in January; Mancini is a fan of Roma’s Daniele De Rossi and Fiorentina’s Riccardo Montolivo – both are out of contract in the summer, and the clubs might prefer to take the cash while they still can. Importantly, neither have played in the Champions League this season, and would therefore be eligible for the knockout stages.

In the Premier League it won’t be a problem. There, the physicality of De Jong, Toure and Barry will be enough, but City might need a little more nuance if they are to triumph in their debut Champions League campaign.

A good article and makes a lot of sense. The only question is, if Mancini has missed this bus, who is on the next one for him.
We must have back up plans. If this is the position he wants to strengthen then someone else will come in. Or is it just Mancini like DDR?

[DonTullio]

A good article and makes a lot of sense. The only question is, if Mancini has missed this bus, who is on the next one for him.
We must have back up plans. If this is the position he wants to strengthen then someone else will come in. Or is it just Mancini like DDR?

I think I've read and heard that Yann M'Vila would be a target if the deal for DDR doesn't go through.

I don't believe he's good enough to even be DDR's backup, so I can't really think of him in our starting line.

[Mase]

So he's definitely said no?

[Risby]

So he's definitely said no?

Looks like it.

[DonTullio]

So he's definitely said no?

No, he hasn't. Look up my post from last page or something.

[Mase]

No, he hasn't. Look up my post from last page or something.

Yeh I saw that mate. But people have put things on since saying he's staying with Roma

[DoomMerchant]

Yeh I saw that mate. But people have put things on since saying he's staying with Roma

Fucking Italians. Who can tell what will happen. I cannot.

Domme un cigaretto.

[trueblue64]

No, he hasn't. Look up my post from last page or something.

Yeh I saw that mate. But people have put things on since saying he's staying with Roma

I think the gist is he has not asked to leave, but if the club receive a big offer then they the club might sell.

[chips]

Basically 30m+ and he's ours. Take it or leave it Bobby.

[Nigels Tackle]

Yeh I saw that mate. But people have put things on since saying he's staying with Roma

Fucking Italians. Who can tell what will happen. I cannot.

Domme un cigaretto.

fag

[Mase]

Is there no one else with a beard we could buy?

[Nigels Tackle]

Is there no one else with a beard we could buy?

my gran? she's better than savic.

[Dameerto]

Is there no one else with a beard we could buy?

[Original Dub]

Hell yeah

[Mase]

What about Russell Crowe in Gladiator?

[Swales4ever]

Anyhow, coming back on topic:

90% of the stuff that gets on the papers is complete and utter sh!t. Transfer market like this creates so many money-making opportunities ( 35k people at the Olympic Stadium in Rome for a friendly game, people? ) that we should just wait and see.
There hasn't even been an official, proper offer from Manchester City yet.

Intelligent and, if You actually are Italian, Mate, I'm proud to have a fellow Countryman and Blue on here, who can prove that some Italians speak and spell English properly, as I can't anymore.

@ Beefy.
I see the cover from direct horse and thank You for that cuz I couldn't hear the words yet.
Still it doesn't change very much of my opinion - which is not DDR will surely come nor he can't sleep without City - just that key points are still on the table:
a) Italian Clubs are Skint and the new American Owners of ROMA have to write off huge debts
b) It's now or never either for the Player and the Club (Roma): none of them will get the same opportunity at next turn of waltz.

Then, if or how much the Club (MCFC) want DDR, I'm with Wayne and Tony and John there: nobody knows other than 2 men in the whole world, HH & the Chairman (possibly 3 if Soriano as been already fully involved).

I tell You what though, If our beloved City were already a full running engine (which nobody wants or expects to be yet, in such a short time) and I theoretically was the sporting director, having been shown the green light by the upper instances, I'd take the 1st luxury Ethiad plane to Rome, with an irrevocable letter of credit for 25-27 million euro in my handbag, along with a contract for 2 seasons long loan of Rodders and throw them onto the table of Roma's Board Room, in the certainty that Zdenek Zeman is one of the best Youth Developers in the world and we will have back Rodders ready to step into Yaya's boots with very few tactical adjustment by Bob in the next summer preasoson camp. Meanwhile City, with DDR in the squad for the next 4 years, will have won another title out of the next two seasons (to say the very least) and seriuosly challenged to hear the starting whistle of one of the next 2 CL Finals (again at very least).

Odds: could be 10%, could be 80%, very much depending on what those 2 men will be thinking in the next few days.

[Beefymcfc]

I'm not saying he won't come, I'm not arguing the point either way as I would like to see DDR at City. However, there is one critical area in there which was addressed, the inquiry.

We've inquired but not put in an offer, why is this? For me, it says that we've contacted the club who've allowed us to have a chat with the player. That would suggest that they are at least able to play ball but it would ultimately be down to the player as they do not want to alienate their fans. After being contacted by our officials Mancini then personally intervened but the answer was the same as before so no offer has gone in for the player.

We are very interested, but is he?

[Mase]

But Beefy mate, why would his agent come over here then to speak with Bob directly? Surely it would be easier to pick up a phone and say "I've spoken to Danny boy. He's not having it."

There is more to it if you ask me.

[Beefymcfc]

But Beefy mate, why would his agent come over here then to speak with Bob directly? Surely it would be easier to pick up a phone and say "I've spoken to Danny boy. He's not having it."

There is more to it if you ask me.

Could be mate but I'm not clinging to anything on this one.

The thing is, is he really that good?