[Deano]

Come on boys, get a win and that should be enough to put us through.

 

[Deano]

Aquilani
Artur
Baptista
Bertagnoli
Brighi
Cassetti
De Rossi
Juan
Loria
Marangon
Menez
Mexes
Montella
Okaka
Perrotta
Pizarro
Riise
Taddei
Tonetto
Totti
Vucinic

My team:

Doni; Cassetti, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto; Pizarro, De Rossi, Brighi; Baptista; Totti, Vucinic.

Bench: Artur, Loria, Riise, Aquilani, Perrotta, Menez, Taddei

 

[Deano]

Yes I think he is. He wasnt training yesterday.

 

[Deano]

I predict that the team Spalletti will choose is most probably

Doni; Cassetti, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto; Perrotta, De Rossi, Brighi; Taddei, Baptista; Totti

 

[Deano]

It is possible Menez will play for Taddei I suppose, I think that would be the best option as he gives us a different option to the res of the team I posted above. However, Spalletti might go for safe, play Taddei for 60 or so and if we need Menez he will bring him on.

A draw is not a terrible result here, as it would most likely mean being in the driving seat going to our last game v Bordeaux (unless Chelsea lose tomorrow)

 

[Deano]

By that I would mean that Spalletti knows what he gets out of Taddei, where as with Menez its up in the air... I would prefer Menez, but Taddei in form is a good player... unfortunately he isnt.

 

[Deano]

I wouldnt mind a 1-0 in the manner of the derby to be honest. A scrappy win would do, we can not take this for granted.

 

[Deano]

Dinamo Kiev you mean

 

[Deano]

Well, supposedly Cluj have been the far superior team, but we lead... makes a decent change, but anyway, we really need to get a grip of this game. I suggest entering Pizarro for Taddei anytime soon.

 

[Deano]

De Rossi just got a yellow for blocking the ball with his bollocks You should be allowed to wipe out stupid yellow cards after the game

 

[Deano]

Brighi is playing awesome at the moment. Who would have thought this 2 years ago or even maybe 2 or 3 months ago?

 

[Deano]

Great win, its weird really, this win takes us to 9 pts and yet if we lost at home to Bordeaux we are eliminated. Inter were humiliated today by Panathinaikos, have just 8 points, and are yet definitely through. I feel like all the luck just goes to a few teams from Italy.

 

[Deano]

It will be nervous, but in Rome, we should be more comfortable and hopefully we can get an early lead there too to take some pressure off. The fact is it is basically a play-off between Roma v Bordeaux since Chelsea host Cluj... a Win garauntees first, a draw gives us 2nd, a defeat leaves us in the UEFA. I just wish we had got that extra point v Cluj at home now

 

[Deano]

Indeed the positives is that Bordeaux is a team we should be on our home patch and if we do we will top the group and avoid possibly all big teams apart from R. Madrid, Lyon, maybe Liverpool/Atletico and Villareal... well unless the draw is kind it would still be rather difficult. However, firstly we must beat Bordeaux... they need to beat us, so for us we must just be patient and counter them, basically the way we have been playing lately... so the game is set up perfectly for us.

 

[Deano]

Maybe so, but if Bordeaux open out, I think our counter attacking has been rather good, especially in the beginning of the match. The first goal is vital, but we are a better team than Bordeaux on the whole. This doesnt mean we will win, but it normally means that big players turn up on the big days.