On The Hotseat: Why Claudio Ranieri Needs to Be Booted at Roma

Before the start of the 2010-2011 Serie A campaign, most analaysts and fans expected Roma to challenge Inter, as well as AC Milan and Juventus, for the Scudetto. It was just a year ago that the "Tinkerman" replaced Luciano Spalletti as the headman for Roma after Spalletti resigned just days after starting the 2009-2010 season off with two losses. Most people, myself included, never expected Roma to challenge Inter the way they did, down to the last few days, and nearly stealing the Scudetto and treble away from the current European champions. Ranieri seemed to breathe new life into a tired looking squad, and practically outsmarted the Special One with less talent and time. With a new season upon him, an open checkbook to bring in new talent, and time to implement his strategy, one would think that the former Chelsea and Juventus boss would turn Roma's recent fortune around and help them see the form that won the Scudetto in 2001 under Fabio Capello. However, a few things have become clear that should cause worry to the giallarossi and its supporters. 

One thing that immediately worried me when i saw the lineup for this past weekend's Roma-Napoli match was the inclusion of three fullbacks in Cicinho, Riise and Cassetti as well as the benching of Roma's best player this season in Mirko Vucinic. It made no sense for for Ranieri to play Riise out wide, when you have one of the most creative players in all of Serie A on the bench, and let me tell you Roma are in SERIOUS need of some creativity and attacking fortitude. And to make matters even worst against Napoli, the ever meddling Tinkerman took off i Lupis most dangerous threat in Jeremy Menez and the best wide player on the day in Cicinho. It really was the most horribly managed game of Ranieri's Roma career, and to me sums up just how bad our season has been. Not only have his on field decisions seriously hurt the giallarossi quest for championship glory, but his transfer history has been equally questionable.

Looking back on the summer that was for the capital city club, one would say they fared pretty well for a team with a very tight checkbook. The loss of young fullback Marco Motta hurt, but they seemed to have made up for it with the attacking threat that Marco Borriello and Adriano brought. Not to mention Ranieri's faith in youngster Aleandro Rosi and the free agent pickup of Fabio Simplico.

Unfortunately, none of these things have worked out as predicted.

 While Borriello has been a great pickup, the money Roma spent on the Brazilian party boy has already looked to be an admitted waste. Why would Ranieri make such a late push for the former Milan striker if he had any faith in Adriano's goal scoring ability?? If his play against CFR Cluj is anything to go off of, Ms.Sensi should be very upset that she will be paying him near €5 million this year, a waste to say the least. Rosi was expected to succeed Juventus right back Motta, but has been underwhelming to say the least. Not to mention that the acquisition of former Palermo midfielder Fabio Simplico was supposed to add even more depth to a very experienced bunch. But where has he been? Yet to debut and already we are 6 games into the Serie A season, and 2 games deep into the CL group stage. Why bother picking up players you do not intend to play? Roma are not the club that can afford superfluous wages. So far a seemingly successful transfer campaign is proving to be anything but.

So far nothing Claudio has done has proven that he deserves to keep his job as a top flight European manager. He makes too many changes to squads, spends money poorly, and often alienates star players (see Francesco Totti). And now with Rosella Sensi putting a block on both players and staff from talking with the media, you know that something is awry at the Olimpico. Hopefully she can make the right decision, and save our season before all is lost, and a romp through mediocrity is all that is left for this fantastic Roma squad.