As John Arne Riise ghosted past the Juventus defence to nod home unmarked i think Ranieri really enjoyed that getting one over his old team. Since last October the revival under Ranieri for the Roman’s have been in brilliant form and calmly eases themselves into the top 4. Currently sitting in 3rd place 2 points behind Ac Milan, it looked a total different story at the start of the season where Roma wimped in the first 2 games against Genoa and Juventus. A day after the defeat to Juventus Luciano Spalletti the then Roma manager resigned and in a good will of gesture he told the club not to pay up his contract due to the club debts. Ranieri signed a 2 year deal with Roma and after some teething problems in his 1st 2 months with the form of Roma being up and down, but since the draw at Fulham in the Europa League in late October, Roma have been unbeaten in 15 games in all competitions.

Ranieri has built a solid base with the back 5 rarely changing in the last month. Julio Serigo who was 3rd choice behind Doni and Arthur last season is performing brilliant in goal this season and is clearly the best 3rd choice in the world at the moment. Back 4 is Cassetti, Juan, Burdisso and Riise. Cassetti who is now a Roma hero for scoring the winning goal in the derby is keeping out Marco Motta and Burdisso who was signed on loan by Spalletti is keeping out Mexes. The system used now is either a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-1-2 both used by the tinker man in the last couple of weeks especially at Juventus. It shows that Ranieri is not afraid to change things if it is not going right.

Players like Marco Cassetti, Rodrigo Taddei and Simone Perrotta are showing brilliant form recently and the form of the 2007/08 season on which all 3 players were played a part on taking Inter to half a hour away from winning the league and winning the Coppa Italia. The 3 players in question did not perform in the last 18 months under Spalletti and the side struggled last season to manage 6th place. The only blip since the new year was the 2-2 draw at a improving Cagliari side on which Roma conceded 2 goals in added time, but apart from that things under Ranieri have been very good. With the signing of Luca Toni was a bit of bold move because the player has sought of declined for Italy and Bayern Munich since Euro 2008. But he has performed for Roma scoring 2 goals against Genoa in the 3-0 win. But sadly he picked up a injury against Juventus and is out for up to 6 weeks. The attack is now shouldered by Roma through and through Francesco Totti and his friends.

Good times are back at Roma and hope that on all competitions this season Roma can challenge. Siena at home this Sunday could this be 16 games unbeaten.

Forza Roma!!