News & Opinions

By: cathal | February 13th, 2009

A little later than I planned, here’s my take on some of the news stories that have been thrown out there in recent days.

Ledesma: He will miss two weeks. A thigh injury is the problem. Some will say it’s bad timing to lose Cristian who is probably the most important player in the team. However, I feel we have more than enough strength and depth to cope with this loss. Nevertheless, don’t you just wish Firmani could be the man to step in and step up?

De Silvestri: I would pay no heed to the speculation linking Lollo to the Viola. He’s not a regular starter and thus it is an easy rumour to create but both he and the club know that he is one for the future. He has to realise he is not yet as consistent, mature and level-headed as Lichtsteiner but that will come with time and age and I expect to see that progress at our club.

Rocchi: Tommaso looks set to be fit and ready for Torino. More about that in the preview later.

Lotito: Despite what the vast majority of Lazio fans will tell you, I personally cannot see Simeone on our bench next summer. In an interview, Claudio hinted that he was ready to extend Rossi’s contract. I think the fact Delio has yet to be offered a new contract suggests Claudio is evaluating the situation but the fact he wasn’t dismissed last season shows Claudio’s belief in him. Therefore don’t expect Delio to go any time soon but don’t be surprised if he does go either. It’s a tricky situation and we should expect anything. But Diego? No, I really don’t think so.

Angeleri: It seems he will no longer be moving to us this summer. Apparently we reached agreement with Estudiantes but failed to attract the player’s attention. I wouldn’t go as far to say that this deal is dead in the water but it certainly looks unlikely which is a real shame because he is quite a player.

Zarate: Lotito and Maurito’s brother and agent have “shook hands” on a 5 year deal. For me, that is half the work done. Now Claudio has to go and make a sufficient bid to Al Sadd. Once this is done, the Zarate Kid is ours permanently. Don’t get overly excited though because it would be a Claudio-esque thing for our president to go to Qatar and try and bargain down the transfer fee. If he bargains it down, fine but if he bargains us out of it then he will have to face the wrath of our tifosi.

Veron: Juan Seba has revealed that Lotito is in regular contact with him; every two weeks or so a phonecall is made. It may appear as though there is nothing particularly significant about that but I think it is always major news when Claudio is actually speaking to a soccer player. He can’t find the time to extend the contracts of Pandev and Ledesma but yet he finds the time (and the money) to give JS a ring every once in a while. Encouraging signs of a summer move? I think so, although Veron also pointed out that River Plate are keen. Surely if we want him enough we can get him?