Roma 3 - Cagliari 2
As comebacks go, this one is right up there with the two goal, three minute turnabout against the Rossoneri last year, though perhaps not as sweet because Cagliari ain't exactly Meelan, doggedly resilient as they may be. Problem is....Cagliari ain't exactly Meelan. There was absolutely nothing to be done about the sheer brilliance of young Conti's free kick - I know it's been 9 years, but could he not have saved that for next week? - but the lads easily could've avoided sleeping on the Jeda ball. And then Simone could've been the hero and we wouldn't have needed to see Mirko's underpantaloons. Everybody's happy.
(Speaking of Mirko's underpantaloons, I know Romans in their skivvies ain't exactly a rare thing at the Olimpico (you're on your own searching for the mountains of examples), but does anyone else get the feeling he's a slight bit off his rocker? In a good way, if there is such a thing. Or maybe he's just a big twelve year old. Either way, much as he is loved, I'm desperately hoping to avoid him later in life because he's definitely going to be that batshit old dude who answers the door without pants. Good luck with that.)
Actually, more than Milan in terms of sheer joy and adrenaline in the comeback, it reminded of the trip to the Fruili last spring. Clearly a greater sense of urgency due to time constraints on Sunday, but I couldn't help feeling the minute the Jeda goal went in they collectively thought, "well played, but we're better than you and now we're going to prove it". It was a show of pure strength and superior quality. And they never quit, something which we've unfortunately seen in the past (then again, it may be that "quit" was synonymous with "tired legs from chasing results in a more demanding formation"...). A fantastic combination of quality and fighting attitude right to the very end.
And just as much as it was a gracious three points and a few less weeks off the end of the life, 'twas a learning experience for me:
- I was curious to see what Spalletti would do when they eventually went behind with these new tactics. What he did was send Vincenzo Montella, a goal poacher, on for Cicinho, a right back playing central mid. Safe to say the 4-3-1-2 went way the hell out the window. And I can't properly sum up the formation in writing because I don't know how to place Jeremy directly on top of Mirko on a page. I guess it was something like this:
Artur
Cassetti, Juan, Mexes, Riise
DDR, Perrotta
_____________Menez
Montella, Totti, VucinicIn short, who the hell knows. But more forwards = yes.
- Okaka on the pine and fit who comes in: L'Aeroplanino or the anti-Pirlo? I say Stefano.
- Simone Perrotta was fantastically fantastic tonight. Standing ovation. Not just the goal - who can't finish now? - but the sheer fact that he did the work of both he and Brighi. Cicinho can run a bit, but Matteo he ain't. When Roma went down Simone went on a rampage and cleaned up so many balls to regain possession it was positively amazing - all before getting back on his horse to bomb forward, of course. One can't possibly have watched this game and still wonder why he's a favorite of so many coaches.
- We saw just another confirmation as to how much Brighi has brought to the success of the 4-3-1-2. Cicinho deserves no criticism, a central mid he'll nevah evah be, but there's a decent chance that second goal never happens with Matteo in there as merely another guy bombing back, and Cagliari's possession could even have been limited that much more. He shouldn't be needed to win against the likes of the Sardinians, but still a massively key member of the team.
- Team needs another high quality CB. Gloria ain't gonna cut it and the dropoff from Juan-Mexes to Mexes/Juan-Anyone else is too great. Panucci is a good, solid CB, but he'd be mighty fine as a 3b CB to someone else's 3a. You know, still, if only by name, "3rd" so he doesn't go around punching teammates/coaches.*
- Backup keepers are backup keepers for a reason. Artur was solid today aside from the goal, and I've seen worse. Will wait to cast judgment until after the midweek game, if even then. It was, after all, his first Roma start. (Though former keeper Shaka Hislop of ESPN360 fame seems to think his view was obstructed on the goal, hence the late reaction. So maybe Artur was really garbage.)
- Doni is supposedly out two weeks with muscular problems (surprise surprise). Bet the house he's between the sticks in Sicily next weekend.
- Juan's hurt even when he's not. Taken out for precautionary reasons.
* - Andreolli has started 15 of 17 games (one red, so surely a suspension in there) for the 3rd stingiest defense in Serie B, before anyone asks. What that means I haven't the slightest, but chances are he can't/won't be called back.
Highlights
StatsNStuff
ROMA (4-3-2-1): Artur; Cassetti, Mexes, Juan (1'st Panucci), Riise; Cicinho (33'st Montella), De Rossi, Perrotta; Baptista (20'st Menez), Vucinic; Totti.
A disposizione: Bertagnoli, Loria, Greco, Okaka.
Allenatore: Spalletti
CAGLIARI (4-3-1-2): Marchetti, Pisano, Lopez, Canini, Agostini; Fini, Conti, Biondini; Cossu (34'st Lazzari); Larrivey (1'st Acquafresca), Jeda (41'st Parola).
A disposizione: Lupatelli, Astori, Matheu, Ragatzu.
Allenatore: Allegri
Arbitro: Trefoloni di Siena
Assistenti: Niccolai-Papi, IV Russo
Marcatori: 39' pt Totti, 13' st D.Conti, 24' st Jeda, 32' st Perrotta, 43' st Vucinic
Note: 4656 paganti, oltre ai 29.085 abbonati. Incasso: 114.998 euro. Ammoniti D.Conti, Cicinho, Marchetti, Biondini, Vucinic
Ratings
Artur: Second goal was soft, but we've seen a lot worse from Doni. A lot worse. 6.5
Back line: I thought they all played rather similarly: not quite wonderfully, not quite poorly, maybe a bit above average. Nothing could be done about the Conti free kick but GOMR was caught napping for the second and just before that Jeda should've put in yet another. Needed to be a bit better as a whole - including the Juan shift in the first half. 6.5
Cicinho: No, not his position, but a stupid foul which led to the Conti free kick. No need to throw a shoulder there. But typical Cicinho going forward. 6.5
DDR: Along with Perrotta enormous as the two man midfield late in the game. They cleaned up acres upon acres of space together. 7.5
Perrotta: I'd started to worry maybe age was catching up to he and his rapidly increasing odometer earlier this year, but no longer. The last 20 he really put in a world class, jack of all trades performance when they needed it so dearly. MOTM and the biggest difference between zero and three points. 8
* - He may be a bit more reserved that Mexes, but he's no less Roman. Bleeds yellow too.
Baptista: Really just not shining in the 4-3-1-2. It's not that he's been bad, just rather average. It'll be interesting to see what happens when the team starts playing with a bit more width, stretching the defense and not requiring inch-perfect touch and passing (but maybe he should still petition Santa just in case). 6.5
Pippo Vucinic: What do you say? I would've yanked him for Menez. Pretty sure everyone not named Luciano Spalletti would've done the same. He was ineffective to put it kindly - though not so in the first half, when he was incredibly dangerous and inches away from a sensational goal - and coughed up the ball like it was SARS. Runs became a bit lazier too, and reverted back to Pippo Vucinic. But as is the case with any great striker, they can be utterly useless for 89:59 and all that matters is that one second. 7
Totti: Class goal, class play, typical Totti. Had he scored that insanely audacious chip from the right hand of the box I think I may have fainted. Only a few players in the world can even attempt that and not look foolish. 7.5
Menez: Lots of kudos to Mirko for the finish, and it was off a Cagliari touch, but Jeremy deserves a ton of credit for that drag back and burst before centering the ball into an incredibly dangerous and promising position in the box. Not every moment will be brilliantly effective, but when it is his moment it sure is brilliant. 7.5 (Just for creating that goal.)
Montella: The prime is long past, but a valiant attempt when he's got no match fitness to speak of. N/A
The clean sheet streak is long gone thanks to old boy Daniele (and Roman nap time), but that's seven wins on the trot, eight in nine. Another huge test next weekend up against Catania and their 6-1-1 home fortress. Until then, let's enjoy an icy dish of revenge midweek against Bologna.
(Hold the Cicinho, please.)