Obviously not that relegation was a good thing. But it did show the world that to some players, the club was more important than anything else.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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