[FM23] Lazio Legends

[xray1324]

Haven't been feeling my Wolves save for a while so I'm starting something new. Already done the preseason, though with no notable transfers, so I won't mention a pre-season transfer window. Let's start with the rules of the save, and stuff of that ilk. Though I've had a quick look at what our board expects this season. Latter stages of Europa League, qualify for the Europa League, and Challenge for the Copa Italia Fanta cup. We should probably be able to do this.

 

Rules and Goals

Become the best team in Italy defensively, meaning in the league we concede the least goals.

I won't be setting myself strict transfer instructions. Will be trying to get decent money for players, so around value or higher if possible. Happy with good instalments too. So here's what I want to do, though. Try to sign various players, but the maximum age should be 28. Because we're in Italy, we should be trying to sign Italian players a lot.

Some players if they're performing really well for us we will try to keep and turn them into legends for us at the club. So unless they're unsettled by a bid, we're not accepting a bid for them.

We're going to aim to do as well as we can really, and try to rake in as much cash as possible to make the team as strong as possible.

Now, here's what the board's ideals are.

Should be doable.

 

Pre-Season

Something incredible even if not against the greatest of opposition is that we only conceded 2 goals all pre-season. That's encouraging. 4 clean sheets out of 6. That's encouraging.

 

Tactics

These are our two tactics, the first for normal matches, and the second for cup matches. Or I'll switch between the two as I see fit too.

 

Achievements

N/A, yet.

Posting Structure

Every month ingame with awards, league positions, how we're doing in cups etc I will do a update as we go, with each match's team if I remember to do it. Then, each transfer window I will try to do a couple updates for each, like the start of the window and then the end of the window

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Main Goalkeeper injured

So, this means our 23 year old GK will now get a chance to shine in the first team.

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Europa League Group Stage

Europa League 2022/2023's Group Stage, looks easy enough to get through, no notable teams here.

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August 2022 Results

Sassuolo - We only have 2 central defenders who aren't suspended or injured. Using the narrow version of our tactic. Provedel, Marusic, Patric, Gila (21), Lazzari, Cataldi, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Alberto and Immobile. 1-1 draw, not a great result, though our first competitive match. Hopefully do better next match.

Juventus - Using the narrow version of our tactic. Provedel is injured for up to 2 months from this match onwards. Maximiano (23), Pellegrini (23), Gila (21), Casale (24), Lazzari, Cataldi, Antonio (22) Milinkovic-Savic, Alberto, Zaccagni and Immobile. We won 4-2, with 2 goals scored by their Vlahovic. Luis Alberto had a man of the match performance getting a goal and 2 assists in his SS position.

Inter - Using the wide version of our tactic, because they're currently 2nd. Figured we need a slightly different tactic here. Maximiano, Pellegrini (23), Patric, Casale (24), Lazzari, Cataldi, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. Pellegrini had a man of the match performance with 11 progressive passes, and an assist.

We start the season with 2 wins in 3, 2nd in the league. Good stuff.

 

Awards

Edited July 26, 2023 by xray1324

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September 2022 Results

Monza - It looks like they're using a narrow tactic so we'll play wide. Maximiano, Pellegrini (23), Patric, Casale (24), Lazzari, Cataldi, Vecino, Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. Lazzari was injured for up to 5 weeks. Milinkovic-Savic had a player of the match performance, scoring a wonder goal from 35 yards. Wow! We won 3-1. Marusic will now be our starting right-back, and at 29 he's in his prime. Using the wide tactic against them using a very narrow tactic seemed to work very well!

PSV Eindhoven - Because this is a cup game, I'm using the wide tactic which is our tactic for cup games. If it isn't working by half-time, I will switch to the league tactic. Maximiano, Pellegrini (23), Radu, Patric, Marusic, Vecino, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. We're 0-0 at half time, so I changed the tactic to the league tactic and made some subs. Pellegrini is doing well so far. Pellegrini just assisted Alberto for a goal, it's looking like Pellegrini is getting another man of the match. We won 2-0, and Pellegrini had a man of the match performance, scoring a 8.8 with 100% tackles won ratio, plus an assist. Wonderful stuff.

Salernitana - Looks like they're using a wide tactic so we'll play narrow. Our main goalkeeper is back from injury, and Maximiano hasn't been playing that great, with a 6.57 rating overall from 3 matches. Provedel, Pellegrini (23), Patric, Casale (24), Marusic, Cataldi, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic (who by the way is now a star serie a player), Zaccagni, Pedro and Immobile. Pellegrini early on gave away a penalty. We were 2-0 down by 15 minutes in, but near half time we scored 2 goals, 1 from an Immobile goal and the other by an Cataldi goal. Offensively we're great, but defensively this season we haven't been particularly great. Immobile has scored a hat trick finishing it on the 66th minute! We won 4-3, and to be honest, none of our defenders were that great defensively this match, with our main goalkeeper, well he doesn't feel like he's good enough. Conceded 3 goals from a midtable side, I'm not starting him next match. At-least Maximiano wasn't that bad.

Nantes - Looks like they're using a wide tactic, so we're going narrow, even though it's a cup game. Maximiano, Pellegrini (23), Patric, Casale (24), Cataldi, Antonio (22), Vecino, Zaccagni, Milinkovic-Savic and Immobile. Cataldi is sent off, so I'm removing a poorly performin Immobile from the pitch and putting a player in the DM position. Bertini comes on. We ended up winning 2-1. We looked very solid until the red card, which we conceded 2 goals, but 1 was disallowed. Zaccagni had a man of the match performance, scoring a goal and assisting a goal.

Spezia - Looks like they're using a narrow tactic, so we're going wide. Maximiano, Pellegrini (23), Patric, Casale (24), Marusic, Cataldi, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. We're 1-0 up on the 72nd minute thanks to a penalty from Zaccagni! We won 1-0.

We're so far one of two unbeaten teams in the league, and are sitting top of the table with 2 points separating us and 2nd, and only 3 points separating us and the rest of the top 6. 

 

Awards

This is some excellent stuff from Cataldi, Savic, Zaccagni and Immobile.

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Pedro is leaving at the end of his contract.

Honestly, I'm fine with this. He's been okay, with a goal and 2 assists in 2 league starts and 4 sub appearances. He's quite old at this point and he might be good, ish, but I'd prefer to get someone younger in his place.

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We qualify for the Round of 16!

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October 2022 Results

Verona - Looks like they're using a narrow tactic, so we're going wide. Maximiano (23), Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Casale (24), Hysaj, Cataldi, Vecino, Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. We're 1-0 up in 3 minutes by Immobile converting a penalty! By full-time, we've won 3-1, and we're top of the league. Zaccagni got a man of the match performance with an assist, and Klopp watched the match, after Milinkovic-Savic.

Trabzonspor - We're using the cup tactic. Maximiano (23), Pellegrini (23), Romangnoli, Casale (24), Hysaj, Vecino, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. We ended up winning 3-0, with Immobile getting a brace and winning player of the match.

Atalanta - Looks like they're using a narrow tactic, so we're going wide. I'm also scouting their Giorgio Scalvini, might be someone to invest in. Maybe not for 26-34m, though. Maximiano (23), Marusic, Romagnoli, Casale (24), Lazzari,Cataldi, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. We ended up conceding 2 so we lost 2-1, though Immobile did score. This is our first loss, hopefully we don't lose too many more. I will add though that at half time we switched to the second tactic, and this changed our fortunes slightly.

Trabzonspor - Again. - I might switch to the second tactic here and see what happens. Because of Maximiano's poor performance I'm trying Provedel back in the role. Provedel, Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Casale (24), Lazzari, Cataldi, Cataldi, Vecino, Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Alberto and Immobile. Provedel is actually... not much better. On the 34th minute he conceded and then we just didn't score any goals, so we lost 1-0. And Pellegrini got sent off! Great.

Lecce - Using the second tactic. Maximiano (23), Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Casale, Marusic, Vecino, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Alberto, Zaccagni and Anderson. So, we won 1-0, with our only goal of the game coming from a plaer thatr later on got sent straight off for a straight red.

Roma - They're using a narrow tactic, so we're going wide. Maximiano (23), Marusic, Romagnoli, Casale (24), Lazzari, Vecino, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Pedro and Immobile. We won 2-1, with Immobile getting a man of the match award for his goal. Klopp was again watching Milinkovic-Savic.

Nantes - Looks like they're using a 4-4-2, which looks like it could be a wide tactic too. Narrow it is. Trying Provedel again. Provedel, Marusic, Romagnoli, Casale (24), Lazzari, Vecino, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Alberto and Immobile. It's not even been a minute and we've scored a free kick from Alberto! We won 4-1, with Immobile getting man of the match award for his penalty and goal! (He scored twice). Immobile will be rested for our match against Torino. Provedel played well enough.

Torino - They're using a narrow tactic again, which seems popular in Serie A. I'm going to use our wide tactic. Provedel, Pellegrini (23), Casale (24), Romagnoli, Lazzari, Cataldi, Antonio (22), Alberto, Pedro, Cancellieri and Anderson. I'm going to sub Provedel off, he's conceded a poor chance. Wonderful, one of our CBs has been sent off for a second yellow card. We ended up drawing 3-3 after going down late on, just, wow.  Lazzari saved our asses this game. We do unfortunately drop from the top of the board to 2nd from this result, though.

We've been on a little bit of a bumpy ride this month, but still doing really well, we're now in second just 1 point away from Milan. They're still unbeaten. It looks like 10 out of 11 of their games... They had a clean sheet?!

 

Awards

Lazzari got into the team of the month!

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Pedro's out for 3 months

Wonderful.

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November 2022 Results

Eindhoven - Seeing how we've qualified, I don't have to use the strongest side available. Still going to pick a decently strong side, but younger players are going to get game time here. We're using the wide tactic. Maximiano (23), Pellegrini (23), Casale (24), Adeagbo (20), Lazzari, Vecino, Bertini (20, Zaccagni, Cancellieri (20), Anderson. We switched to the narrow tactic after half time after scoring 2 goals. We've just conceded a goal from Fabio Silva!! 3-1! We ended up winning 4-2 with two goals from Anderson, who has proved he is a worthwhile backup to Immobile.

Sampdoria - They're using a wide tactic so we'll go narrow. Because Maximiano didn't have the greatest of games, I'm starting Provedel this time. Provedel, Marusic, Romagnoli, Casale (24), Lazzari, Cataldi, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Alberto and Immobile. I subbed Immobile off late because he was looking tired. We won 3-0, and our man of the match came to Romagnoli, who was relentless in defence and scored a goal.

Milan - Since this is an important team we are using our best current XI. Provdel, Marusic, Romagnoli, Casale, Lazzari, Cataldi, Vecino, Milinkovic-Savic, Alberto, Zaccagni and Immobile. After switching to our wide tactic at half time, it payed off as we ended up winning 4-1! I am super chuffed with this result that bumps us up to 1st, giving Milan their first defeat of the season! Felipe Anderson was a constant thorn in Milan's side, being our creative spark, giving us 2 assists and a goal, and was the player of the match in this one!

This has been a really great month for us, taking over the mantle now more convincingly going into first, and it doesn't look like any team can beat us now, but I could be wrong.

 

Awards

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December 2022 Results

Emirates - This is a team that is heavily lacking in quality, so I am using a youth-centric line-up. Maximiano (23), Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Patric, Hysaj, Antonio (22), Bertini (20), Basic, Alberto, Romero (18) and Anderson. We won 10-0. TEN, NIL. Alberto got FIVE goals. I wasn't expecting us to win even in a friendly that much.

Al-Wahda - This is also a team that looks to be heavily lacking in quality. Same thing applies here. Provedel, Pellegrini (23), Casale (24), Patric, Hysaj, Vecino, Bertini (20), Basic, Cancellieri (20), Romero (18) and Immobile. We actually lost here, losing 2-1. Maybe I should use a stronger side next match.

Dibba Fujairah - Provdel, Marusic, Romagnoli, Patric (22), Lazzari, Basic, Cataldi, Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Alberto and Immobile. We won 3-1, with 3 different scorers. Romagnoli performing well.

Lazio U20s - This will also be to see who is decent in our U20s with any signs of promise. Maximiano (23), Pellegrini (23), Patric, Casale (24), Marusic, Cataldi, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Romero and Anderson. So far we've conceded 1 goal from our u20s from Crespi. Then, on the 40th minute, Milinkovic-Savic has scored a goal after leaving our youth GK in the dust. Then, Zaccagni scored with Milinkovic-Savic giving an assist. Romagnoli has scored with an assist from Zaccagni. Then a goal from Immobile with an assist from Pellegrini. Then Zaccagni scored with an assist from Milinkovic-Savic. Then Romagnoli... got an own goal. Late on, though. We won 5-2.

FC Twente - Provedel, Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Gila (22), Marusic, Basic, Vecino, Milinkovic-Savic, Alberto, Zaccagni and Anderson. Alberto and Anderson scored, letting us win 2-0.

 

Awards

 

Start of Winter Transfer Window

Right now the ideal thing to do is try to get Pellegrini's deal of 10.25m reached to make his move permanent to our team. He has proved to be truly excellent. Anything more than that is a bonus.

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Pellegrini's Deal is Confirmed

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Marusic New Contract

He's been pretty useful with his versatility and been helpful to get us to challenge for the title.

Not a bad wage increase, so I'm happy with this.

 

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Patric wants to leave.

He'll be leaving at the end of the season. ...Actually he's got deals already came in for him.

Edited July 30, 2023 by xray1324

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Milinkovic-Savic new deal.

I know it's huge wages, but he's a star. Absolutely need to keep unless he really wants to leave and it looks like he wants to stay.

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January 2023 Results

Empoli - Looks like they're using a narrow tactic, so we'll go wide. Provedel, Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Casale (24), Marusic, Vecino, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. We ended up winning 1-0 thanks to a corner goal from Romagnoli, who's proving to be good at those. He's scored 2 in the league so far in 10.

Bologna - Provedel is out for 2-3 weeks so let's see Maximiano in the side again. Zaccagni is also suspended. In addition Lazzari and Milinkovic-Savic are injured. Looks like they're using a wide tactic, so we'll go narrow. Maximiano (23), Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Casale (24), Marusic, Cataldi, Antonio (22), Vecino, Alberto, Romero and Anderson. Immobile is down with a minor injury so I'm not risking him for this match. Romero assisted Alberto to give us the lead on the 51st minute. Aaaaaaand Pellegrini is sent off! Wonderful! Marusic is now playing on the left.

Bologna - Again. Coppa Italia Fanta, Third Round. They're wide again, so here we go. Maximiano (23), Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Casale (24), Marusic, Cataldi, Vecino, Alberto, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. Anderson has given us the lead in the 24th minute with an assist from Zaccagni! Then Romagnoli scored from a corner from Alberto! On the 68th minute Zaccagni has scored giving us a 3-0 lead with an assist from Alberto! That's 2 assists for Alberto today! ...70th minute we concede making it 3-1. Oh, wow. First of all they got a second yellow card on their side and then they gave away a penalty... But it was saved and went for a corner. Immobile scored from the corner but it was offside. We won 3-1, and we're through to the Quarter Final of the Coppa Italia Fanta!

Napoli - They're using a wide tactic, so we're going narrow. Maximiano (24) (he's just turned 24), Marusic, Romagnoli, Casale (24), Gila (22), Cataldi, Antonio (22), Vecino, Alberto, Zaccagni and Immobile. We've given away a penalty on the 70th minute, but we saved it!! Then... we conceded on the 77th minute. 1-0. We ended up losing 1-0. We fall to second.

Cremonese - They're using a wide tactic, so we're going narrow. Looks like an easy game, since they're 20th. Maximiano (24), Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Casale (24), Marusic, Cataldi, Vecino, Alberto, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. Our only goal of the game came from Casale from a corner, and that meant we ended up winning 1-0.

Florentina - Looks like they're using a 4-4-2, so we'll go wide. Provedel, Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Casale (24), Marusic, Cataldi, Antonio (22), Alberto, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. 13th minute, we score, Antonio scored, with an assist from Anderson! Immobile then on the 25th minute scored from a penalty! Anderson then scored with an assist from Pellegrini! We've... given away a penalty on the 72nd minute and we conceded it. Great. It's 3-1. Gila scored from a corner from Alberto! 4-1!

Udinese - They're using a narrow tactic, so we'll go wide. Provedel, Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Casale (24), Marusic, Cataldi, Vecino, Alberto, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. We conceded on the 70th minute... Without scoring a single goal. We have 7 shots on target, and didn't score once. What. We lost 1-0, and somehow stay in 2nd.

As a result of losing twice narrowly this month we drop down to 2nd, on 44 points by January. Immobile has only scored once in all 6 league games, and when he scored it was a penalty.

 

End of Winter Transfer Window

For regular stuff coming in this window, we don't have too much, but I did complete some deals for youngsters and Luca Pellegrini to join us next summer. I'll be showing those players to you when the summer transfer window drops. For actual transfers we got two players in the Winter Transfer Window, 1 on loan and 1 young player. Both young and the one on loan I can potentially sign next year if he proves to be useful.

In

They're both Italian.

Ruggeri

If he plays well I will look into signing him since currently they don't want much for him. He looks fairly decent, with good potential.

D'Andrea

The scouts actually recommended I did not sign this player. But he fits both our tactics and will get some gametime probably mostly off the bench.

Out

Not much to say, better to take money for some of these than let them just languish, and Pedro really wanted to leave if I remember correctly.

 

Awards

To be honest I don't understand this award.

Edited July 31, 2023 by xray1324

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We're through to the Semi-Final of the Coppa Italia Fanta!

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Marusic is injured for 2 months.

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Round of 16: Sevilla

Interesting draw.

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Right Back Injury Crisis

 

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February 2023 Results

Atalanta - I decided to just use our wide tactic for this one. I'll switch at half time if it's not working. I decided to rotate the side a fair bit. Maximiano, Ruggeri (20), Casale (24), Romagnoli, Marusic, Antonio (22), Cataldi, Vecino, Romero (18), D'Andrea (18) and Anderson. We've given away a penalty on the 32nd minute, but we saved it and they did not score the rebound!! Anderson scored on the 62nd minute with an assist from Marusic!! We're 1-0 up and our GK is currently doing really well! Immobile then scored on the 71st with an assist from Alberto!! 2-0! We then conceded on the 85th minute, but it's been a good performance from our goalkeeper. We're now through to the Semi Final!!

Sassuolo - Looks like they're using a wide tactic so we'll go narrow. We are looking low on defensive options. Provedel, Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Radu (who is getting a rare appearance because we have no-one else decent), Gila (22), Cataldi, Antonio (22), Vecino, Alberto, Zaccagni and Immobile. Immobile has scored 2 goals in the first half with us leading 2-1! Alberto has 2 assists to his name too. 58th minute, a penalty gives Immobile his hat trick!! Immobile on the 59th minute has SCORED FOUR!! Today is the Immobile show. That might be his 5th on the 61st minute, but it was disallowed. Immobile gives Milinkovic-Savic an assist to give Milinkovic-Savic his first goal since his injury! (Yes I subbed Milinkovic-Savic on) Ruggeri has given Immobile an assist to score his 5th actual goal!! That's FIVE GOALS from Immobile today, what a player. That's a 6-1 win, very nice!

Juventus - They're using a narrow tactic, so we'll go wide. We're looking low on right back with only Gila reliably decent there.Provdel, Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Casale (24), Gila (22), Cataldi, Vecino, Alberto, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. Immobile has assisted the first goal of the game at 15 minutes with Anderson scoring! We've scored from a corner! Romagnoli scores it, and Alberto took the corner! Another corner goal! This time Romagnoli is the cornert taker and Immobile scores it! 3-0! Zaccagni scores with an assist from Anderson! 4-0!

Inter - So all 3 of our rightbacks... are either injured or suspended. Wonderful. Pellegrini and Immobile are also on short-term injuries so won't be featuring. Provedel, Ruggeri (20), Romagnoli, Casale (24), Bedini (18), Vecino, Cataldi, Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Cancellieri (21) and Anderson. We conceded on the 84th minute after being absolutely battered with chance after chance against us all game. 1-0 down. We've conceded again on the 85th minute, welp. We're done.

Salernitana - They're using a narrow tactic, so we're going wide. Provedel, Pellegrini (23), Romagnoli, Casale (24), Gila (22), Cataldi, Antonio (22), Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. We've conceded on the 14th minute... We equalized on the 22nd minute with a goal from Antonio! Then Romagnoli scored from a corner from Cataldi! We're 2-1 now! We ended up winning 2-1.

Monza - They're using a narrow tactic so we're going wide. Provedel, Ruggeri (20), Romagnoli, Radu, Casale (24), Cataldi, Vecino, Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Anderson and Immobile. On the 74th minute, we get the lead through a goal from Milinkovic-Savic, assisted by Romero! That was the only goal of the game and we ended up winning 1-0.

It now looks like a 2-man race for the top 2 places.

 

Awards

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Alberto Injured

This leaves us with 1 of our star AMs out for a large portion of the remainder of the season. This means our two AMs are currently Zaccagni and Romero. Yet to see if Zaccagni is anywhere near as good as Alberto has been for us this season, but with Alberto not being able to play, well, we'll see. Maybe Romero will fill the void left by him too.