Il Danielista 12

By: Michele | February 10th, 2009

AS Roma – 3 Genoa – 0

Greetings, ‘Il Danielista’ is back and what a great game to come back for.
This game could not have gone any better.

Big game, one of the biggest of the season so far (what a season though – one big game every 2 weeks…).
Win and Roma leaps past Genoa and pretty much knocks them out of the battle for 4th.
Loose and, well, a lot of work to re-do for the boys in red ‘n’ yellow.

From the 4th minute till the 1st goal the game was all about Il Capitano.
Great through ball for Taddei, pin-point cross for Perrotta and cheeky lob into the net (disallowed due to Pippo’s number 1 fans’ positioning).

After Cici scored (and was promptly rushed to hospital – ‘ecstasy to agony’ for Cici said the commentator) things started to sour with Genoa deciding the best way to get anything out of this game was to kick people.
ASR started to loose focus, as they so often do after going one up and allowed Genoa to do pretty much what they wanted on the pitch. It looked like it was going to be a very edgy second half until, in the 47th minute DDR and Mirko combined beautifully. Daniele went on one of his lone wolf through the middle of the pitch runs – unstoppable – and then launched a perfect ball to Vucinic who volleyed it into the goal.
Great goal and wonderful finger to those who have criticized this beautiful team of playing ugly football.

The game then turned into a succession of fouls, the vast majority from Genoa, which resulted in 2 reds being shown (3 if you count Genoa coach Gasperini). Taddei got the first red after collecting his second yellow, much to the dismay of the Roma fans who had spent 50 minutes watching Totti and co. get elbowed and stomped by Motta (the bad, Genoa, former Barca, Motta not the young prodigy of post-Pannucci Roma)) and Sculli.
Sculli picked up his second yellow soon after and bad Motta missed a semi-sitter so karma all round.

After the second yellow the game slowed down until La Bestia slamed one into the net on the 92nd minute.

This was a tough game and Roma stepped up to the challenge and whipped Genoa.
GRANDE ROMA

On to Daniele.

DDR Rating – 8

Great performance by DDR.
Flanked by his new bff, Brighi, he commanded the middle of the pitch with authority.
He did what we all expect of the greatest defensive midfielder and more.
Not only were his blocks and tackles perfect but he went on a couple of amazing runs, one of which resulted in the 2nd goal.
Daniele does not get sole credit for near total domination of the centre as Perrotta, Taddei and Brighi, especially Brighi all played solid games. This allowed Capitano Futuro to focus on his job and do things like push forwards. It is worth noting that Philou and Juan were world-class and when that happens it is often linked to DDR’s performance.
Candidate for MOTM along with Mirko and Juan.
Beautiful game from the heir of Rome.
Shouted at the ref a couple of times too…

Less Reputable Ratings:

goal.com

De Rossi- 8.5:
Man of the match. Controlled the midfield and anchored the side, also putting in a great chipped assist for Vucinic’s goal.

Romanews.eu

De Rossi: 7,5

Vince tutti i duelli a centrocampo. Spegne l’interruttore al gioco di Gasperini e accende quello dei suoi. L’azione e l’assist per il raddoppio di Vucinic è roba per palati fini. La corsa sotto la Sud è da Ultras in campo. Contro la più inglese delle squadre italiane, sfodera l’ennesima prestazione mondiale.

Wins every duel in midfield. Pushes the off buton whenever Gasperini’s men try to push forwards and the on button when Roma do. The run and assist for Mirko’s goal is a combination of rare delicacies. The run beneah La Curva Sud is one the Ultras will remember. Against the most English of Italian teams, Daniele gives another world class performance. (MOTM).

La Gazzetta

De Rossi 7
MOTM

Thiago Motta would be a tricky customer for anyone but Daniele is not just anyone.
Memorable cross for the 2-0.

The Rest of the Team:
(per La Gazzetta)

Doni – 6.5
He was forced to come out more than to save and had to steal the ball from both Jankovic and Milito.

Surprisingly little to do given the presence of Milito but did what he had to. Came out very well a couple of times and showed great strengh to stop the ball at Milito’s feet.

Cicinho – 7
Brilliant start to the game as he both starts and finishes the action that leads to the first goal. Pity about the injury.

Such a pity about the injury.
He started well and looked like it would be his day until he injured his knee after landing awkwardly. Given the lack of options on the right flank and the effect this has had on Cici’s confidence plus his training performances I had him pegged as my MOTM before the game.

Motta – 6.5
Takes over from Cici and, after some calming words from Mexes manages to get cheers from the crowd.

Everything taken into account he did very well, which given Cici’s injury is great news as he may be starting next week. Remarkably cool he even looked a bit cocky at times as he tried to beat his man on the right flank. The cameras showed Philou giving the U-21 captain advice but after this mature display maybe hot headed Mexes has things learn from the youngster.
Promising.

Mexes – 7
Impassable. Limits Milito and even gets forwards (could have lowered his foot instead of taking out Rubinho).

Good game from our resident bar brawler who looked relaxed and took time to explain the ropes to new boy Motta. Pushed forwards and knocked Genoa keeper out the game when he lunged for a ball.

Juan – 7
Clears the ball from the goal line and makes some important tackles.

Candidate for MOTM.
Goal line clearance and numerous saving tackles.
Nullified Milito.

Tonnetto – 6
Genoa’s manoeuvres restrict him to his side. More than Sculli and Palladino he suffers due to Jancovic.

Rolled back the years. Got back when he had to and pushed forwards when he could.
Solid.
I missed Riise though. It is always exciting wondering whether he will blast a ball into the back of the net or position himself so as to gift the opposition a goal.

Taddei – 5.5
Looses 0.5 due to his red card.

Deserved his second yellow but prior had worked hard on the flanks and in midfield.

DDR – Above

Brighi – 7
First battles with Vanden Borre then with Juric. Great lung capacity.

Showed class and grit. Had a couple of Menez moments where he dribbled past opposition players.
Great game.

Perrotta – 7
Chosen over Pizzaro he does well providing the assist for 1-0 and then scales back to help out De Rossi.

Fought hard, made some good runs and missed some shots.
Vintage.

Vucinic – 7
Volleys in a fantastic goal, fights and shows his worth.

Great game from our big game player.
One or two Pippo moments but overall class performance. He made the left wind his and had the Genoa defence screaming rape on more than one occasion.
Oh and what a goal.

Totti – 6.5
Inconsistent but provides a beautiful pass to Perrotta for the first goal. Goes down a bit to often.

Roma looks better with him.
Francesco may have looked a bit slow and out of practice but his presence alone is a great asset for the team. Started very brightly and then faded.

Baptista – 7
Plays as a striker but also gets back to do some of the dirty work, closes the game with a good goal.

Selfish player.
In the closing minutes of the game he missed the opportunity to make it 3-0 by deciding not to pass to Aquilani who was wide open and who really needed the confidence boost. Made up for it by blasting a shot into the back of the net in the 92nd.

Aquilani – SV
Came on for the last 10 minutes and did very little right.
Performance to forget.

Spal – 7
Perrotta instead of the MOTM at Reggio Calabria, Baptista on for Mirko, who just scored a goal of the season; theres was little to do but he always did right.

Got everything right.

Interviews:

Daniele casts his eyes towards 2nd and 3rd place…

Spal is happy.

Other:

Aqui does not celebrate and refuses Spal’s handshake.

Such a b!#ch Gila scored in the last minute for Fiorentina.

So Roma is now 5th with just the Viola between them and fourth.
FORZA ROMA

atalanta away next week.