As I exclusively announced to TFK last week, Vincenzo Montella will be appointed new Roma manager, I’d expect sometime in the next week or so for this to be officially confirmed. We’ve been tentatively linked with CSKA’s Seydou Doumbia, haven’t really seen much of him in action but he’s a good record in Russia. An attacker should be the least of our priorities in any case.
The main focus of Sabatini and Montella should be our defence which is a complete mess. Cassetti, Heinze and Cicinho look certain to leave and hopefully we can get rid of Angel and Juan as well. I was impressed with Kjaer’s last 3 or 4 games with us but there’s no denying he’s been a huge disappointment for us, if we can negotiate a cut price deal then I’d be willing for another season. Taddei has another two years left on his contract so it will be hard to shift him, as well keep him round to plug a few holes if needs be as he always displays a good attitude and is versatile. Two new centre backs are a must, as are both a right back and left back. Van Der Wiel, Isla and Schelloto have been linked with the right back berth, Cissokho and Basto with the left back and we’ve had an endless amount of centre backs linked - Villarreal’s Musacchio is the one who seems to have the most substance behind him. I’d also like to see young Crescenzi return to us, he’s been very impressive in Serie B by all accounts and is a mainstay in the Italian u-21 side, able to play both right back and left back.
In midfield it looks like we will turn the loan deals of Marquinho and Gago into permanent ones. I was very impressed with Marquinho’s input since arriving in January, could become a big goal threat from midfield. Gago started off well but finished poorly, both he and Pjanic lacked consistency last season but hopefully some new faces challenging them will up their game. Two new faces are needed in midfield to challenge for first team places, preferably one who also slot into De Rossi’s holding role. I’d like us to take Bertolacci back as well and let him develop here. We should send young Viviani on loan to Serie B this season. Pizarro, Perrotta, Simplicio and Greco will hopefully all be offloaded.
I’m pretty happy with the attack, Borini and Osvaldo had good seasons though Osvaldo really needs to curb his temperament. Bojan had a much stronger second half of the season and Lamela needs time and patience but he showed in bits and pieces what a great player he can be. Getting rid of Borriello is the priority and addin another striker of a good pedigree would be nice, but not necessarily required. If we do sign another striker I feel young Tallo should be loaned out to Serie B to continue with his development.
I would be delighted if my source has let me down and the current rumours are true that Zdenek Zeman will take over the reigns at Roma this summer, delighted.
He is meeting with the Roma big wigs today and could be announced by Wednesday. The best management appointment in football since Martin O’Neill took over at Celtic in 2000.
I really like Zeman and he’s a good fit for Roma but will he continue the same style change that LE started - you’s imagine he’ll impose his own defined style on the team.
One or two question marks over his trophy cabinet, two Serie B titles 20 years apart, but his attacking style is very pleasing on the eye.
[font=verdana][size=3]Roma have revealed that they have spoken to Athletic Bilbao’s Marcelo[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]Bielsa[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3], but [/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]Zdenek[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3] [/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]Zeman[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3] is in a good position to succeed Luis Enrique.[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]
The capital club are looking for a new Coach and there is a strong chance that the Pescara boss could be appointed by the end of the week.[/size][/font]
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“We’ll announce our new Coach in three or four days,” Giallorossi sporting director Walter Sabatini stated on Monday.[/size][/font]
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“We’ve spoken to a number of Coaches and that includes Bielsa.[/size][/font]
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“But there is a good chance that Zeman will arrive. He would represent a sign of continuity seeing as his football is similar to that of Luis Enrique.”[/size][/font]
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It was understood that Catania boss Vincenzo Montella, who the Spaniard replaced last summer, was initially the favourite to be handed the job.[/size][/font]
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“He wasn’t our first choice,” Sabatini insisted. “But he was an excellent candidate.”[/size][/font]
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Montella could now end up at Fiorentina.
[font=verdana][size=3]Sabatini[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3] also dismissed links with Andre Villas-Boas by insisting there had been no contact with the Portuguese tactician.[/size][/font]
I only want Zeman. His track record of bringing young players through from the youth teams is fantastic - Nesta, Totti and recently Verratti- this in addition to the success of our youth side this season. It would also be wonderful if his appointment lands us in a place to nab Verratti. Another great thing about Zeman is that he despises Juve.[/size][/font]
The agent of Lorenzo Insigne has said Roma would be his preferred destination if Zdenek Zeman takes charge. Insigne is the most exciting young talent in Italian football.
Zdenek Zeman has confirmed he “had talks with Roma and we are already at an advanced stage,” while he looks forward to working with Francesco Totti again.
The Pescara Coach earned promotion from Serie B, but seems ready to make a return to the Stadio Olimpico as a replacement for Luis Enrique.
“I had talks with Roma and we are already at an advanced stage,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
Zeman suggests his previous tenure was ruined by refereeing decisions, perhaps as ‘punishment’ for his accusations that sparked an investigation into the use of medication in sport.
“This is not ‘revenge’ in coming back here after 13 years. When I left, it was due to a political issue. In 1998 the doping scandal erupted and the team lost more than 20 points due to the decisions of others.
“If they had continued with me, they would not have done any better, so it was only right to change.”
Captain Totti gave some of his best performances under Zeman and is still at the centre of the team project.
“It’s too early to talk about this, but if Totti proves he is good as a centre-forward then he will always play. With me the best always play, regardless of their names or ages.”
We’ve also been linked with Mathieu Flamini today.
Zeman should be in place by Friday, his arrival will signal the end for Fernando Gago who he is not too keen on. Apparently Alexander Merkel is close to signing for us as well.
Good stuff, we’ve been linked with Destro heavily recently and he’s came out today and said to play at Roma alongside Fabio Borini under Zdenek Zeman is his dream. Rolando is a player I haven’t seen an awful lot of but he’s well regarded and his athletic style is something that will help our defence. We’ll also have Nico back next year as well. Looks like Heinze will move on but Juan is adamant he’ll stay. If we can negotiate Wolfsburg down I’d like to see Kjaer stay - he had a poor season but we were a mess defensively under Enrique and Kjaer looked good in our last 3-4 games. Two full backs and another centre back (in addition to Rolando) are a must, 2-3 midfielders are also needed - Marquinho will be secured permanently hopefully and then it would be a bonus if we could 1-2 new faces in attack (Insigne and Destro would be my picks).
Italian press suggesting Juve are coming back in for Rolando as well. We are being strongly linked with Leandro Castan, some talk that a deal is all but complete, he’s a centre back who plays for Corinthians, 25 years old. Another rumour that has emerged is a swap deal between Roma and Juventus, Borriello for Melo. I would love to have Felipe Melo in a Roma shirt, imagine him kicking ass in a Rome derby? Carlos Sanchez is another player linked with us, he’s a Colombian international midfielder who is out of contract with Valenciennes in France.
Castan looks good from this video, athletic, aggressive and reads the game well.
[font=verdana][size=3]“Some Italian players think they are Hollywood stars, but I was surprised by how down to earth Francesco Totti is. He is a living legend at Roma, a very normal lad and a lot of fun.”[/size][/font]
Mr. Zeman takes a swipe at Barcelona, Spain and all the other ball hogs.
[font=verdana][size=3]Zdenek[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3] [/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]Zeman[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3] praised Francesco [/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]Totti[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3] as “the best player I ever worked with” and warns Roma that Luis Enrique-style possession football is [/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]“futile.”[/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]
The ex-Pescara Coach is raring to go, making his return to the Olimpico after a 13-year absence.[/size][/font]
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“I am happy to be back after so many years in an environment that allowed me to have fun,” he told Roma Channel.[/size][/font]
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“The fans often asked me to return over these 13 years and I’m happy to be here. I hope to give Roma what I could not in my first two years here. Our work aims to bring enjoyment to me, the players and the fans.[/size][/font]
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“In my football I try to eliminate pointless things, so for me a horizontal pass is futile, as it’s just loaning each other the ball. We must always try to do something that will have meaning.”[/size][/font]
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This feels like the opposite of what predecessor Luis Enrique wanted over the past season at Roma.[/size][/font]
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“I think it’s only normal that coming out of the Barcelona school, where they focus so much on possession, that means preparing for a long move that takes you to the conclusion.[/size][/font]
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“I am quicker, in the sense that with possession you also give your opponents time to get settled in defence. It’s much more difficult to break down a defence that is closed rather than catching them unprepared. I also see long-range shots as rather desperate. In my type of football, the striker must receive service.[/size][/font]
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“We also play the same way, whether home or away. With Pescara this season we scored 45 goals at home and 45 on our travels.”[/size][/font]
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Zeman had said in his presentation press conference that Daniele De Rossi was not a creative midfielder.[/size][/font]
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“There was a misunderstanding. In my view De Rossi is not an Andrea Pirlo-style ‘regista,’ as he is more of a central midfielder who can give balance to the side. Of course he can play in all three midfield roles, but that’s a different matter entirely. It depends on where the team needs him the most.[/size][/font]
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“Totti is the best player I ever worked with. He had talent and showed it off. He changed role, becoming a centre-forward and therefore more susceptible to getting fouled, so the two major injuries have taken their toll. I haven’t spoken to him yet, as he’s in America on his vacation.”[/size][/font]
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Zeman is known as a hard task-master and warned there will be big changes for the Giallorossi.
[font=verdana][size=3]“I’ve been told I’m old-fashioned. The more you work, the better you get, so I’ll bring back the double training [/size][/font][font=verdana][size=3]sessions.”[/size][/font]
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Insigne is the most exciting young talent in Italian football.
