Pathetic.

By: salvatore | February 24th, 2008

If you can think of a better word to describe the 1-0 loss to Cagliari, please let me know. Because as far as I can see, when you play with a man up against a last-place team that’s won only three games all year, AND LOSE, you’re in for some trouble. And make no mistake, shit is about to hit the fan, with Delio, the man who seemed impenetrable just a few months ago, now on the hot seat.

Rossi

Where else can he be following this carbon copy of the mess against Empoli a couple of weeks ago? What else can he expect when the team seemed ridiculously sluggish, completely bereft of creativity and pace, and very, very wasteful (with newly re-signed Rocchi blowing at least a pair of chances right in front of goal). Oh, and I did I forget to mention that they’ve now gone over 329 minutes without an away goal. Pathetic.

Last week a group of fans held a meeting with Rossi and Rocchi to ensure a certain level of intensity and play, and they pleaded for some roster changes. The pair agreed in principal, but then nothing really changed. That won’t be allowed now. About 60 fans met the team at the Cagliari airport to protest, yell and reportedly chant, “Get to work!”. You can expect a similar scene at the team’s training sessions next, with a silent boycott planned for the next home game. After that, who knows? But I wouldn’t want to be Delio right now.

What’s concerning, aside from the fact that we’re now in 13th place, is Rossi’s complete refusal to sub Mauri and Ledesma, even when it’s clear that they’re in the worst form of their respective Lazio careers. Why not bring Faccia Di Schiaffo Behrami up to mid, (with Radu taking his place on the backline) and try Rolando Whitey up front with Rocchi and Pandev? Especially when you’re a man up in a nil-nil draw with a last-place team? Why remove Pandev when he was clearly the only man creating any opportunities at all?

There’s not much else to say really. If last week’s 3-0 win against Atalanta proves to be a fluke in the face of a series of craptastic performances, the second half of this season is going to be long as hell.