Rossi, Rocchi and a Round-Up

By: cathal | December 17th, 2008

It is becoming difficult to escape the rumours that are circulating at the minute and ultimately it is starting to annoy me. The speculation over previous weeks was credible enough but now they range somewhere between the sublime and the ridiculous.

I’ll start with Rossi. In the wake of the Udinese game, Donadoni was immediately linked with a move to Lazio should Lotito decide a change of personnel was necessary. For my money, there is absolutely no truth behind this, it was an easy bit of news at a vulnerable time. A reaction of sorts. Since then, Claudio has dismissed the reports emphatically. I can’t see how we can sack Delio even if we want to. Where’s the justification? Ok, some dodgy team selections, a lack of passion in our play, some internal issues, bad form in recent weeks, problems aplenty, yes. But 8th in the league, two points off a UEFA Cup spot with 24 points? It’s hardly catastrophic and that’s where the problem lies. We have lost touch with the pack but the pack has yet to leave us behind. So we can love Rossi or we can hate him, but I think he will be with us for a while longer. I think it’s even safe to rule out that insane rumour that he is on his way to Napoli. Unless Edy Reja is on his way to some big team somewhere, that is not going to happen.

The Rocchi situation is well on its way to chaos and absurdity. Ever since he blurted out his disatisfaction with bench warming, he has cut a frustrated figure and has been targeted by the media. Does it really matter if his apparent spat with Zarate actually took place? Surely there is a bigger issue at heart here. I mean, am I the only one who thinks Tommaso can no longer cut it at Lazio? Am I not witnessing a failing captaincy? Something is definitely amiss and if it is a case that Rocchi has lost a degree of quality, perhaps we should cash in our chips before we are left with a bad hand.

There is a suggestion that we may look to swap Rocchi with Balotelli. I can see why Lotito would want Super Mario but I’m struggling to see what Mourinho would want Balboa for.

In the next round of the Coppa Italia, Lazio will face Torino after ex-Lazio player, Bianchi, fired them to a 1-0 win over Fiorentina. With the utmost respect to the Granata, they have given us the most favourable draw.

A survey has shown Lazio to be seventh in the league of best supported teams in Italy. The table is viewable here.

That’s all for now. Preview will be up on Friday but if there’s anything to cover tomorrow, a new post will be made.