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It may be only a friendly, and the gap in condition between English teams and Italian teams may be huge at this point in time, but Roma will have to think long and hard about their 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspurs at White Hart Lane this afternoon.
Coach Luciano Spalletti has reiterated many times that his team needs reinforcements, and on today's evidence one can see his point. But one player may not be enough.
Still, there were a number of important players missing today, such as captain Francesco Totti, goalkeeper Alexandre Doni, Rodrigo Taddei, Cicinho, and David Pizarro.
The home side made a blistering start to the match and found themselves 2-0 up within the first five minutes. David Bentley opened the score with a free kick that eluded stand-in goalkeeper Artur, before Daniele De Rossi, looking a shadow of the great midfielder we saw in the last few seasons, played a poor back-pass to Juan that allowed Darren Bent to sneak in, dribble past the keeper and make it 2-0.
Roma continued to struggle throughout the first half, with Simone Perrotta failing to make himself dangerous with his runs, and veteran striker Vincenzo Montella showing he is no longer suited to matches at this level. Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes needed to make just one save, on a long-range effort from Alberto Aquilani. Bentley even made it 3-0 just before the break with a shot from outside the area.
In the second half, things didn't change. Five minutes into the restart Giovani Dos Santos dribbled past Philippe Mexes and played it to Aaron Lennon, who had no problems scoring the fourth goal.
On the hour mark, Bent got his brace as he easily slotted the ball home on the far post after completely eluding a disoriented Roma defence.
Roma looked nervous and out-of-sorts, Aquilani even getting himself sent off late on for a second bookable offence. The only danger from the visitors in the last part of the game came from Perrotta, who fired a dangerous cross-shot that was parried away by Gomes.
After this defeat, Spalletti will be even more sure he has a lot of work to do, not only on the transfer market, but also to try and make the team forget about this dismal display.
Danilo Pochini
Starting formations:
Tottenham Hotspur: Gomes, Zokora, Bentley, Jenas, Berbatov, Bent, Modric, Giovani, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Woodgate.
Available: Bale, Huddlestone, Lennon, Gilberto, Gunter, O'hara, King, Jansson. Coach: Ramos.
AS Roma: Artur, Juan, Mexes, Riise, Cassetti, De Rossi, Aquilani, Brighi, Perrotta, Vucinic, Montella.
Available: Pipolo, Panucci, Loria, Esposito, Alvarez, Virga, Mladen. Coach: Spalletti.
It may be only a friendly, and the gap in condition between English teams and Italian teams may be huge at this point in time, but Roma will have to think long and hard about their 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspurs at White Hart Lane this afternoon.
Coach Luciano Spalletti has reiterated many times that his team needs reinforcements, and on today's evidence one can see his point. But one player may not be enough.
Still, there were a number of important players missing today, such as captain Francesco Totti, goalkeeper Alexandre Doni, Rodrigo Taddei, Cicinho, and David Pizarro.
The home side made a blistering start to the match and found themselves 2-0 up within the first five minutes. David Bentley opened the score with a free kick that eluded stand-in goalkeeper Artur, before Daniele De Rossi, looking a shadow of the great midfielder we saw in the last few seasons, played a poor back-pass to Juan that allowed Darren Bent to sneak in, dribble past the keeper and make it 2-0.
Roma continued to struggle throughout the first half, with Simone Perrotta failing to make himself dangerous with his runs, and veteran striker Vincenzo Montella showing he is no longer suited to matches at this level. Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes needed to make just one save, on a long-range effort from Alberto Aquilani. Bentley even made it 3-0 just before the break with a shot from outside the area.
In the second half, things didn't change. Five minutes into the restart Giovani Dos Santos dribbled past Philippe Mexes and played it to Aaron Lennon, who had no problems scoring the fourth goal.
On the hour mark, Bent got his brace as he easily slotted the ball home on the far post after completely eluding a disoriented Roma defence.
Roma looked nervous and out-of-sorts, Aquilani even getting himself sent off late on for a second bookable offence. The only danger from the visitors in the last part of the game came from Perrotta, who fired a dangerous cross-shot that was parried away by Gomes.
After this defeat, Spalletti will be even more sure he has a lot of work to do, not only on the transfer market, but also to try and make the team forget about this dismal display.
Danilo Pochini
Starting formations:
Tottenham Hotspur: Gomes, Zokora, Bentley, Jenas, Berbatov, Bent, Modric, Giovani, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Woodgate.
Available: Bale, Huddlestone, Lennon, Gilberto, Gunter, O'hara, King, Jansson. Coach: Ramos.
AS Roma: Artur, Juan, Mexes, Riise, Cassetti, De Rossi, Aquilani, Brighi, Perrotta, Vucinic, Montella.
Available: Pipolo, Panucci, Loria, Esposito, Alvarez, Virga, Mladen. Coach: Spalletti.
Inter 2(5)p - (4)2 Roma 
