Temporary Hiatus

I’ve got one last final today…it feels great. All the best, Julian.

Posted from  United States

Got 2 tomorrow, J.
I feel you – no homo.

I had calc 3 today it was aiight. Genetics & English Lit II tomorrow, though. AKA Suicide-Time.

For everyone reading this:

Do you really think Totti AKA Jesus could make a return to the national team??? I would love to see it, but I’m not sure if it would be the best thing for him or for the Azzurri.

Posted from  United States

I have said it once and will continue, your man is a Roman idol and nothing more, and it appears that my ideas are shared by channel 4 as well..

“With this year’s Champions League Final taking place at the Stadio Olimpico, Francesco Totti has spoken of his desire to go all the way with Roma in what he fears may be one of his last opportunities at lifting the European Cup.

Despite Roma topping Group A, which contained Chelsea, even the most optimistic of the Giallorossi faithful would struggle to present a good case for Luciano Spalletti’s men to triumph this term.

So with Totti unlikely to be picking up a winners medal in May, it begs the question – has Roma’s favourite son wasted a career with his first love? While Totti is idolised and adored in the capital and highly regarded throughout the peninsula, his reputation is not that far reaching.

Er Pupone is consistently overlooked at the business end of the Ballon d’Or shortlist and tends to be on the periphery of ‘best of’ lists. While Totti has unquestionably carved out a legacy that will see him go down as one of Serie A’s greatest players, is that enough recognition for a man of Totti’s talents?

Of his generation, the likes of Thierry Henry and Raul are more renowned and respected on a global scale, but were they really any better than Francesco was in his prime? Had Totti been part of that great unbeaten Arsenal side of a few years back, or had his rumoured move to Los Galacticos transpired in 2002, he would surely have catapulted himself into superstardom.

Nevertheless, there is an example on Totti’s doorstep of a player who broke through all the barriers presented at a ‘lesser’ club and yet was still adored and idolised the world over. Gabriel Batistuta freed himself of the shackles in Florence to be widely considered as one the world’s best players.

So is it possible that Totti simply isn’t as good as the Romans claim? Batigol was incredible for club and country and perhaps that is why Francesco has not translated on to the global stage having never really caught fire for the Azzurri.

The same can be said of Alex Del Piero’s international career, but his Juventus affinity ensures his iconic status on a global scale. Totti has thus been suffocated by Roma’s inability to contest for Europe’s top honours on a regular basis.

Whether it has been loyalty or lunacy on Totti’s part, it is clear, his talents have not been represented on the world stage as God intended.” .

Sure you all love him, but to the rest of us, he is nothing but a good player with very little to show for it…leave him home to enjoy the twilight of his career…

Posted from  United States

I completely agree Gianfranco.

Posted from  United States

Could he make a return? Sure. But fuck him, we don’t need him. He said he was retiring to focus on Roma, well do it. Alex was shunted (multiple times) from the Nazionale but never quit, just played and said he’d always play if he could.

Posted from  United States

alessio, and there you find the difference between a true hero and a selfish narcissit who has been inflated by his own self belief.

Posted from  United States

I think Alex should never wear an Italia jersey again. He is club legend but never reflected on national.

Posted from  United States

Totti @ 50% = the best that Europe has to offer @ 100%

Totti is one of the only great players presently in circulation who puts his team and city before anything, and while some do not like this (or in my case just plain wish it weren’t necessarily so) he should be applauded for what few others have done. what he has given to his club is far more than any other Italian player out there today.

DelPiero is a great player, but he hasn’t got half the skill as Totti. he has a great foot and possibly slightly better dribbling skills (though they are different), but he has none of the amazing passing, threading, flicking abilities as Totti, and lacks the creative, play-making intuition that Totti has, not to mention the range of different shots. FT is a far more valuable player out there. WC 2006 would not have been possible without him, and even though i am not sure it would be a good idea to bring him back, it is a difficult choice to make considering the line-ups Lippi has been fielding without him.

p.s. – the ballon d’or (like many other Frenchie prizes) is a bullshit piece of solid hype, as are most of its recipients. follow with the fact that players like Raul and Henri are in the spotlight because of the teams they play (have played) for and because product-placement hype. Totti is a far better player than both. it is all about marketing, expensive team P.R., Addidas spots and media hype and if you want to buy it, go ahead and take it.

i do not recall either Henri or Raul making it further than Totti (Mr. Gonzalez lost to Totti & co.) in the CL last year, but it makes no difference to the ‘powers that judge’.

gio, ADP is far more creative, far more valauble to his club, and far more durable than Totti will ever be. I dont even like the guy all that much. Plain and simple, I would take ADP twice over Totti. But I will say, to believe that WC06 wouldnt be possible without Totti is insane. Matrix, yes, Grossp, yes, Pirlo, yes, Gattuso, yes, but Totti was an afterthought…

Yea I dont think Totti was that valuable during WC2006 I think he was far down the list of important Italian players. I would say: Gigi, Canna, Grosso, Pirlo, Gattuso, Matrix, Toni, Camo, and then …Totti. And I was still arguing with myself about Zambro ADP Iaquinta being ahead of him.

Posted from  United States

Haters everywhere we go
Haters everywhere we go
Haters everywhere we go
Where we go
Haters goin’ down for the count

And no one can say Roma can’t win CL?
Do I think they can? Sure.
Do they have a good chance? Not really.
Are there better teams in the field? Definitely.
No one will really know what happens in the C.L. unless they actually play. What would be the reason to play the games if they were already decided?
Recent memory serves that Porto and Benfica have won in recent times, Borussia Dortmund a little before. I don’t think anyone thought the Milan team in ‘07 were favorites, I certainly didn’t think they were playing that great except in the C.L.

I just don’t understand the hate, really. Just plain, ol’ hate because they are not your favorite team? I can understand that. But I don’t see why more of it isn’t aimed towards the Three Biggies (depending on which you support because most everyone supports one of those three). I didn’t even know there was that much venom & vitriol thrown Roma’s way, especially from Milanistas, until I discovered the whole TheOffside shpeel. Totti has even said he tips Milan for the scudetto, as there is not much of a rivalry there and they have a good relationship.

Maybe I’m just defensive over my idol, Totti. No he hasn’t won much in his career on the team front. Is that really his fault? Can you really blame a man for wanting to stick with his hometown club through thick-and-thin (please don’t bring up Samp or Real, I’m trying to make a point lol). And he may not have contributed A LOT to the WC06 team, though I still think he contributed a great, great deal. I mean, the dude was coming off a horrific ankle injury, can’t blame the guy really … But like Julian was getting at though, you cannot deny his skill and class. To me, he is the embodiment of what a great player should have in his arsenal: skill, confidence (arrogance in the eyes of others ), and swagger. Yeah, he’s good and he knows it. And that’s what I love about the guy. But that’s just me. Juve has ADP, Milan has Paolo, and Inter has … can’t really think of one player who’s given the team that much over a long period of time … and that is why I personally don’t respect them as much as Juventus or Milan, they are a buncha mercenaries – exactly what Totti, ADP, and Maldini aren’t. Ahh whatever, I was just feeling a bit inspired by someof y’all’s comments and I had to get the writing out of my system b/c of I just finished an English Literature exam. I think John Silver put it in better words than I ever could:

http://roma.theoffside.com/team-news/a-defense-of-totti.html

I’m sorry that first comment didn’t make sense:

“Can anyone say Roma can’t win the CL?”

Gio, I totally agree with you on all account. Couldn’t have said batter. Very insightful!

Totti at WC2006 was only at sub-50%, he couldn’t run, he was avoiding body contact on the field. Yet, that sub-50% that is so critical to Italy. Please count how many assist Totti provided of all the goals Italy scored. I have the tape.

I bet Lipi will call Totti only before the WC2010 final stage but not before (unless Italy is in trouble or Totti is not fit). Lipi knows better to protect Totti (who is not young anymore) within his power. He will not put Totti in situations that make people think he is getting special treatment – aka – only play the important games. Smart. It will be good to Italy if Toti still can play at 2010.

Totti reads the game like no other can. In just one touch he can change the game as the rest are all minds. It’s like battle won before it started, that actual battle itself is as light as a feather. That’s the highest level of game. That is not to say Totti do not have form. When Totti is fit, he can battle and score hard.

C. Renaldo on the hand is all about form, patterns and not mind – things that can be seen and cheered by simple minds.

Please do not compare Totti to pure scorer like Henry, Raul, ect. There many many good scorers. many many dribblers. There is only one Totti.

Posted from  United States

“Juve has ADP, Milan has Paolo, and Inter has … can’t really think of one player who’s given the team that much over a long period of time … and that is why I personally don’t respect them as much as Juventus or Milan, they are a buncha mercenaries”

Yes, I agree. That Javier Zanetti is quite the mercenary. He only spent 600+ games playing for Inter, since he came in 1995 at the age of 22.

Zanetti is closing in on 15 years with the club and four players that I can think of that are closing in on 10 years with the club. What a buncha mercs.

By the way, this merc has yet to play less than 25 games in a Serie A season since he arrived at Inter, not counting Champions League, UEFA cup, or the Coppa Italia. A claim that neither Totti, Del Piero, or Maldini can make.

MAD, I am so sorry.
Zanetti completely slipped my mind.
Actually one of the only Inter guys I cheer for.
I’m so stupid my B haha.
I guess I was only think of Italians b/c of the context of the board…

I’m with you for once, MAD. J. Zanetti is nerazzurri through and through.

I find it hilarious that someone like Cordoba is a mercenary, but of course Mexes, Vucinic and Menez are giallorossi to the core, I mean, they celebrated a goal with the Curva.

Posted from  United States

hahahahaha…gf, how can anyone take your typical written diarrhea serious when you are the same guy that was advocating starting that useless plug, ambrosini, over ddr at euro? i mean, really, ambrosini???? it’s clear how numb your brain is and how blind you are – you said it yourself about totti – “i dont even like the guy that much”. yeah, those are the appropriate grounds upon which to base an opinion of someone’s talent. that would explain why you were so adamant about having ambrosini start over ddr at euro….because you ‘liked’ him better…lol. this isnt highschool musical, buddy. what a muppet. you know, maybe, just maybe, lippi might be a bit more astute on spotting and understanding talent than you do which would explain why he’s extended an offer to totti to reconsider. i would bet his opinion is not one really based on whether he likes him or not.

alessio, dp was “shunted” because he deserved it since he is too slow and was playing like shit. simple. it’s interesting that totti was never “shunted” and has, in fact, been urged to come out of retirement by lippi. that must be because, “ADP is far more creative, far more valauble to his club, and far more durable than Totti will ever be”, as the ever insightful gf put it…lol.

Posted from  Canada

While diverging from the newly emerged Totti debate….
This newly discovered blog is a break from my studying/essays – newly top-listed in the Favourites folder.
Happying studying and/or Holiday crazyness.
Only two months until the next game :s