GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
7,675 minutes. 128 days. Over one third of a year. That’s the equivalent of how much time on the pitch in competitive club football Kevin Strootman missed during his two years of injury troubles (not even counting added time). It seems too easy to dwell on that torrid time in his career, but it will be put to use here, to bring into clarity just how impressive the Dutchman was in his first full season back at the top of professional football.
When Kevin Strootman was taken off with injury in March 2014 against Napoli, it came at a costly time. Diagnosed with damaged knee ligaments, it meant that he would miss the 2014 World Cup, after impressing in qualification for the tournament. It would have been a competition to put Strootman’s name among the very best; he was already attracting serious interest from Manchester United at the time, and a good World Cup for the country who finished in third place would have elevated his name even higher. But that chance to shine was taken from him, and he was confined to eight months on the sidelines. His national team coach at the time, Louis Van Gaal, acknowledged, “This is the worst thing for Kevin,” as he praised his midfielder’s contribution before his injury. With the disappointment of missing the tournament in Brazil put behind him, Strootman returned to action in November of that year, only for disaster to strike again just two months later. After being replaced in the league game against Sampdoria, it was discovered that he had suffered damage to his ligaments once again, and would be required to go under the knife. It would be his last appearance under French coach Rudi Garcia. Seven months on, and just four days into the new Serie A season, it was found that he still needed further surgery. This was a massive setback for Strootman, who consequently missed the majority of that season. His return to first team affairs was understandably slow. Making his return as a substitute against Palermo in February 2016, it took time for Strootman to get back into the swing of things on the pitch. Appearances were limited, as he was carefully managed by Luciano Spalletti, who would have understood that rushing the player back into regular first team action could have had detrimental effects for him. Thus, he was limited to five appearances for Roma in the 2015/16 season. Fast forward to the present day, and it would be easy to look at Kevin Strootman and completely forget all that he went through between that initial injury in 2014 and the early summer of 2016. Finally being able to return to consistent playing time, for the team that supported him through the hardest times of his career, he became one of Roma’s best players of last season. Many players who have gone through tough times with injury call an early end to their career, as Marco van Basten did aged 31, or at the very least look apprehensive when returning to the intensity of top flight football. That was not the case for Strootman, who came back with the hunger and desire that sets him apart from his peers. He wore the captain’s armband in the first Serie A game of the new season, a symbol that represented his strong attitude and resilient mentality after overcoming adversity, and battling again on the other side. Filled with this determination to succeed once again, Strootman gave no hint that he wanted to gently ease himself back into action for his first full season returning to professional football. In that first league game, he made 71 passes, completing 98.6% of them, and created two chances for his teammates, as Roma triumphed 4-0 against Udinese. He completed the full 90 minutes, for the first of many times that season. Strootman’s promising performance was a sign of great things to come in the season ahead; his levels of performance did not drop for three months (and when that drop came, it was just an anomaly). After the winter break especially, he proved to consistently be one of Roma’s best players. He added goals against Cagliari in August, Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League in September, and Lazio in December’s Derby Della Capitale. In the New Year, he scored against Napoli and Lyon in March – in Serie A and the Europa League respectively – and against Pescara in April, meaning he finished the season with six goals in all competitions. Of course an excellent provider for his teammates as well, he racked up seven assists, with a pass completion rate of 86% in the league. That’s higher than football’s most expensive player of all time, fellow midfielder Paul Pogba, recorded in the Premier League in the same season. Strootman’s form over the campaign was highly consistent. His rating on WhoScored.com only dipped below 6/10 on one occasion (in November’s 2-1 loss to Atalanta). Consequently, he finished with an average rating of 7.29 on the stats website. On countless occasions, he was a reliable figure in the team, due to his well-rounded skillset in the middle of the park, both breaking up play with key tackles, and inciting attacking passages of play with intelligent passes. He won an average of 2.03 tackles per game in Serie A, and made 1.67 interceptions. In the air, he won 45% of his duels, and on the attack, he created over three chances in every two league games he played. Few players worldwide could deliver such impressive stats across all departments, and although statistics don’t always serve as an accurate basis for judging players, this is one case where they do represent the ability and performances of the player in question. By the end of the season, Strootman had appeared for a total of 2,789 minutes, the second best return of his career (he managed 2,820 with PSV in 2012/13, the year before he joined Roma). This went to show exactly how far behind him Strootman had put his historical injury problems, as he finally re-established himself as a regular starter both at club and international level. This gift of continued playing time allowed him to achieve the high standards of form that he is more than capable of producing. He was a player not just returning to the pitch, but to the very top of world football. And, all being well, Kevin Strootman will continue in the same direction next season.
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Whilst many names have been linked with Roma over the last few days to become the team's new right winger, the solution for this position may well be hiding right in plain sight. There is reason to believe that Roma's right winger next season is already at the club.
In Eusebio Di Francesco's first press conference as Roma head coach, he may have dropped a little hint about a player he intends to use in that position, that many may not have noticed. "Nainggolan can easily score 18 goals a season playing as an attacking midfielder and he's perfectly capable of starting in a slightly wider position." Radja Nainggolan has just completed the season of his life with Roma, in which he added significant goal output to his energy and dynamism. He has played in a 4-3-3 before, as a midfielder under Rudi Garcia, but may be utilised in the front three next season. It was a slight change in position that helped him achieve his commendable goal tally last season, as he ventured higher up the pitch to become an attacking midfielder in Spalletti's 4-2-3-1 system, a role similar to one he had played in earlier in his career at Cagliari. He showed through this system that he is a player who likes to get forward, and likes to score goals in the process. His work rate also benefited the team higher up the pitch. So, he may be in line to stay in an advanced role next season; this time, as a wide forward. Although he is far from a natural winger, he may just have the qualities to fit Di Francesco's requirements for that position. Often, EDF's wingers are encouraged to pick up pockets of space left in the middle of the park, drifting inside to create combination play in the attacking third. They do not go to the byline and look to make a cross, but instead come inside and help link the team's attack. It is in similar pockets of space that Radja found joy last season, roaming around the final third to pick up the ball and continue the team's attack with either a dangerous shot or an important pass. There is no reason why he couldn't do the same next season, albeit from a different starting position. Although Di Francesco's wide men are usually inverted, preferring to use the opposite foot to the side on which they play, Radja Nainggolan is an intelligent enough footballer to adapt to whichever side of the pitch his coach may have in mind for him. He will have to engage with the team's build up play in order to ensure he receives the ball comfortably, thinking about his body position when acquiring possession, and about what the easiest route towards goal for him is. As he plays small passes with his fellow forwards, he will have to make intelligent runs off the ball, which is an area of his game that is already very good. As this occurs, he may well find himself in a similar position to the one he played in last season, facing goal in the vicinity of the centre of the attacking third. From there, he will be able to make the same contributions as he did in 2016/17. Spots in Roma's midfield three next season are likely to be taken by Daniele De Rossi, Kevin Strootman and the imminently returning Lorenzo Pellegrini, meaning last year's player of the season Nainggolan may find more minutes in this inside forward position. Of course, the Belgian international will be one of the first names on Di Francesco's team sheet, but for this to be achieved, he may have to be deployed in a new area of the pitch. Given the way he effortlessly became an attacking midfielder in the season just gone, there is enough evidence to suggest that Nainggolan will be able to adapt to this new role; and, as he did in 2016/17, make his new position his own. After two outstanding years with Roma, Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah is set to move on from the capital, with a transfer to Liverpool very close. Salah's dynamic speed and goalscoring record from the wing will be difficult for Roma to replace, but here are four players who could fill the role he vacates.
Domenico Berardi Currently on international duty with Italy at the Under-21 European Championship, Domenico Berardi has been heavily linked with Roma over the past few weeks. A talent nourished at Sassuolo under current Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco, he is another left-footed right winger with pace and creativity. He could be the man capable of replacing Salah's goal input, as he himself scored 10 goals in all competitions last season. Sassuolo's asking price is of concern though - they are holding out for 50 million euros, as Gianluca Di Marzio reports, and may have the stronger hand in negotiations if the player performs well at the Euros. Alejandro Gomez Alejandro 'Papu' Gomez has had a year to remember in his footballing life. He captained Atalanta to an astonishing 4th place finish in Serie A, scored on his international debut for Argentina, and even had a music video made featuring his 'Papu Dance'. He scored 16 league goals, the best return of his career, which has led to links with bigger clubs in Serie A. He may be an option for Roma, but AC Milan and city rivals Lazio are also interested in the 29-year-old. Xherdan Shaqiri Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri this morning reported via Twitter that Roma have made initial contacts with Stoke City about the possibility of signing Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri. Shaqiri has played in Serie A before (briefly), having joined Stoke from Inter Milan in 2015. He scored 4 goals in 21 starts in the Premier League last season. The left-footed technician scored one of the best goals of Euro 2016, exactly a year ago this Sunday, with an incredible bicycle kick against Poland. Rachid Ghezzal Another option for Roma may be Lyon winger Rachid Ghezzal, who is out of contract this summer. The 25-year-old's father has confirmed to Sportitalia that there has been interest and contact from the Giallorossi, although no final agreements have yet been reached. Ghezzal - who has 11 caps for Algeria - started for Lyon against Roma in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 16 win last season. His older brother is also currently playing in Italy - for Serie B side Como. Mohamed Salah's boots will be big ones to fill, and some of the names shortlisted to replace him may not be quite as exciting. But they are all very talented players who have the ability to make an impact for Roma should they sign, and many arguably possess a wider range of qualities than the Egyptian. Monchi will seek to find the best deal for the club, and will ensure that Roma can cope with life after Salah. And so it's finally time to close the curtains on a very good season for Roma. In all honesty, the club would have liked to achieve more, with disappointing cup exits in the Champions League, Europa League and Coppa Italia. However, Roma's league form saw a record points tally secured, as well as a record number of goals. Which players deserve special praise in particular?
Signing of the Season - Federico Fazio There wasn't much competition for this award, with most of Roma's key signings being permanent deals for players who were already on loan at the club, such as Antonio Rudiger, Mohamed Salah and Stephan El Shaarawy. But even if there had have been, Federico Fazio would have taken some beating to be named the club's best new player of 2016/17. The Tottenham Hotspur outcast thrived in his debut Serie A season, displaying superb organisational skills of Roma's back line. Adapting to a back three or a back four, the Argentinian's performances set him apart from Roma's other arrivals, including some who had been more promising upon signing. His new nickname, 'Il Comandante', sums up his dominating presence and consistency at the heart of Roma's defence throughout the whole season. Young Player of the Season - Emerson Palmieri Emerson set Serie A alight in 2016/17, putting in a string of excellent displays to make the left back position his own. He was equally adept at going forward as he was at defending. The 22-year-old showed maturity beyond his years, and became a regular starter in the capital. An ill-timed ACL injury at the end of the season meant he missed out on being capped by Italy - the country he switched allegiance to in 2017 - for the first time, which would have been his first taste of senior international football. It was a shame, because he certainly deserved his call up by the Azzurri. Old Player of the Season - Daniele De Rossi For all the plaudits awarded to young players in season reviews, it only seems fair to reward the more experienced members of a team as well. This season Daniele De Rossi led by example for Roma, even at the age of 33. He showed the consistency and intelligence that defines leadership. A lack of relative pace is not an issue for De Rossi, as he works his way around it, letting his experience do the talking instead. Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah may have got most of Roma's goals last year, but it was Daniele De Rossi who won Roma a great number of matches. Surprise Package - Emerson Palmieri Having explored all the qualities that Emerson showed last season, we should also remember that he was not the club's first choice left back last season - and he may not have been this season either. Had Mario Rui not injured his ligaments in pre-season, Emerson may never have got the chance to nail down the left back spot and force his way into the side. What was unfortunate for Rui became the very opportunity that Emerson needed in order to prove himself at this level. And not only did he prove himself, he exceeded all the expectations that would have been set on him. Most Improved Player - Juan Jesus At the start of the season, Brazilian defender Juan Jesus appeared a weak link in Roma's defence. The Inter Milan loanee looked out of his depth in systems he wasn't used to playing in. However, with the turn of the year, Roma switched to a back three, which favoured Jesus's attributes. In this formation he flourished, growing in confidence as the weeks went on. By the end of the season, he hadn't quite become a key component of Roma's team in the same way that Emerson had, but he had shown major signs of improvement. That may not have been enough though; Eusebio Di Francesco plans to use a back four again next season, and the club have already signed Hector Moreno, who can play in the same two roles as Jesus (centre back or left back). Despite his developments, Juan Jesus may not be a Roma player again next season. Most Consistent Player - Kevin Strootman The Dutch midfielder returned to the very top with his form in 2016/17, and showed few signs of weakness along the way. A hard-working player, he rarely had a bad game in the Roma shirt over the course of the season. He was fundamental to Roma's success, providing a link between the deeper midfield two and the attack. Possessing a range of qualities, he is one of few players in his position worldwide who can reasonably claim to be world class, and nearing 'completion'. And he may still even have further steps to make - if this was his first full season back from injury, what can we expect from him with even more sustained time on the pitch? Even greater things may await Kevin Strootman again in 2017/18. Highest Average Rating - Daniele De Rossi With a Giallorossi Yorkshire average rating of 8.04 over the whole season, the passionate midfielder was usually at the top of his game. It wouldn't be fair - or accurate - to say that Roma were reliant solely on him, but he was a presence that the team knew they could always count on in big games. He has never been one to shy away from the pressure, and it was business as usual in 2016/17; only the superb Radja Nainggolan was named GY man of the match on more occasions than De Rossi over the campaign. Goal of the Season- Radja Nainggolan v Sampdoria Speaking of Radja, how good was this goal against Sampdoria in the Coppa Italia in January? Coming right at the moment when the Belgian was at the peak of his form, the reactive right-footed volley was a true moment to savour. It showed fantastic instinct and perfectly executed technique, and was also impressive for the way he altered his speed to adapt to where the ball was going to land. It was a truly memorable strike, and beats off some fantastic competition in the GY Goal of the Season choice (his own curling effort against Inter, or Paredes's long distance strike against Torino, for example). And that's because it was, quite simply, a remarkable goal, from a remarkable player. Player of the Season - Radja Nainggolan Remarkable indeed. For the first time in a while, Roma had a player in their ranks who was one of the very best in world football. Radja had it all - the goals, the energy, the pressing, the tackling... is there anything he can't do? He became a hugely important link between the defence and attack, as an attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 or a 3-4-2-1, thanks largely to his work rate and determination to succeed. And that determination reaped its rewards, as he was named Roma's player of the season by fans on the club's official website. It would be an extremely difficult decision to disagree with; Nainggolan was immense. (Special mentions: Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah both had excellent seasons, with Dzeko making history with a record of over 30 goals, finishing as the top scorer in Serie A, and Salah contributing double figures for both goals and assists, despite missing about a month whilst at the African Cup of Nations. Both are extremely unlucky to not pick up an award, but that just goes to show how strong Roma's squad were last season). And that's that for 2016/17. Now it is time to look forward, eagerly, to an exciting new era for Roma. Eusebi0 Di Francesco and Monchi are on board and will be hard at work to ensure that, in twelve months' time, Roma will be looking back at another excellent season, one in which it will hopefully be even more difficult to select winners for awards. Back to the present though, and a congratulations for all the Giallorossi Yorkshire winners of 2016/17 is thoroughly deserved. To round off the individual reviews of Roma's squad last season, let's evaluate the forwards' campaigns.
Diego Perotti Average Rating: 7.13 Man of the Match: 3 times Season Rating: 7 What began in blistering fashion, turned out to be a disrupted season for winger Diego Perotti. Until the end of 2016, he was in superb form, and also showed how cool and reliable he is from the penalty spot. Sadly, the second half of his season saw him succumb to a couple of minor injuries, which stinted his gametime. When he did play again, he continued to remind us of his superb technical ability. He is also clearly a two-footed player, which is a gift for any coach looking to utilise different options in attack. Eusebio Di Francesco reportedly instructed the club to keep hold of him before he joined up as head coach on Tuesday, meaning he could be in store for an excellent next season. Edin Dzeko Average Rating: 6.66 Man of the Match: Once Season Rating: 7.5 The best way to answer your critics is to perform well on the pitch. That's exactly what Edin Dzeko did this season, putting the misery of the prior campaign behind him. In 2016/17 he scored 29 league goals, equaling Rodolfo Volk's record for Roma that had stood since 1930/31. He joined an illustrious club of only four Roma players to score over 30 goals in a season in all competitions, joining Volk, Pedro Manfredini, and, of course, Francesco Totti. Not only that, he also impressed by working tirelessly from the front for the good of the team. He will hope to continue the same form into 2017/18. Mohamed Salah Average Rating: 7.96 Man of the Match: 5 times Season Rating: 8.5 Another phenomenal season for the lightning-quick Egyptian, 2016/17 saw Mohamed Salah bag double figures for goals and assists - a feat only matched by Marek Hamsik, Jose Callejon and Alejandro Gomez in Serie A. He found consistency and matured, his hat trick against Bologna in November being a standout moment. His pace and technical skill saw him become an outlet for Roma, the rest of the team knowing he could be used effectively on the counter attack, catching any teams using wingbacks off guard. Whilst he still leaves something to be desired on occasion - a right foot, to be specific - he is starting to find the best form of his career, and it is no surprise that Liverpool are heavily interested in him. Thanks to the season he has just had, he will not be leaving Roma for any cheap price. Stephan El Shaarawy Average Rating: 7.12 Man of the Match: None Season Rating: 6.5 El Shaarawy's season worked in the opposite way to Perotti's - especially given they were competing for the same position. In the first half of the season, El Shaarawy became almost a forgotten man, only getting slight glimpses of time on the pitch. However, with the turn of the New Year, he found an opportunity, thanks to Perotti's injuries and Mohamed Salah's absence at the African Cup Of Nations. In these times, he showed enough hard work and good form to retain a place in the side, leading to selection headaches for Luciano Spalletti. From March on in particular, he really earned his place in the side. He also recorded a hat trick of assists for the first time in his career, in the 4-1 win over Pescara in April. However, El Shaarawy will have to be more consistent if he wants to succeed personally next season - only time will tell if he is able to. Francesco Totti Average Rating: 6.5 Man of the Match: Once Season Rating: 6 And so the curtain closes on the most glistening career of any player in Roma history. Totti's farewell season saw him mainly appear from the bench, for limited spells. He could not run as fast as he once could - or for as long as he once could - but Il Capitano was still eager to make a contribution to the team. His handful of starts were restricted to mainly cup matches, but despite his decreasing time on the pitch, he still showed his skillful qualities and expert range of passing. When he played, he was eager to follow the ball wherever it went, to get as many touches as possible - until his last match of the season against Genoa, when he stayed higher up the pitch, desperate to score just one more time. That goal did not come, but he was certainly insistent on having the last touch of the game, protecting the ball in the corner until the final whistle blew. True, Totti's season didn't quite have the romance of the one before, where he saved the team from the bench on several occasions with late goals, but you would be foolish to not recognise the technical ability that Totti clearly still possesses. But now, it is sadly time for him to move on to the next stage of his life - let's hope it stays Roma related. Roma's front line had a successful year, as the team secured a record number of league goals in their history. There perhaps weren't enough alternative options - Di Francesco has confirmed in his first press conference as Roma boss that his ideal squad features six top class forwards - but the players Roma did have showed no signs of feeling any pressure, and helped to lead the team to success. And so concludes Giallorossi Yorkshire's individual player reviews of 2016/17. Stay tuned to this website over the next couple of weeks, as I will round off my look back at last year with my nominations for player awards. After parting ways with a man who divided opinion amongst Roma fans, the club have appointed a new head coach who similarly doesn't seem to be convincing for some supporters.
Many see the appointment of Eusebio Di Francesco as a step down and are worried about his lack of Champions League experience. For others, though, he is an exciting man for the job and many believe he will be successful with Roma. Here are four reasons you should be optimistic about Di Francesco too. Achievements With Sassuolo In his five year spell there, Di Francesco took Sassuolo to unrecognised heights, first achieving promotion from Serie B with them, and eventually even leading them to the Europa League. Their European adventure didn't last long, but then again, who would have expected it to? The mere fact that they even qualified for the competition was somewhat miraculous, and if he can achieve that with a small club, with more limited resources than Roma, just imagine what he can achieve backed by a club with good infrastructure and a world class sporting director and squad. Winning History With Roma It was important for Roma to continue on the right tracks and appoint a head coach who understands the club. Di Francesco certainly fits this bill, having featured for Roma as a player between 1997 and 2001. His time with Roma culminated in winning the Scudetto, a feat he will be keen to accomplish again now he has returned to the club. Already, he appears to be settling in again very quickly upon his return to the familiar surroundings of Trigoria. This means the transition to his new club will be very simple, allowing him more time to get to work on the team and his tactical ideas for the upcoming season. Positive Attitude and Mentality There are several reasons why Roma's last head coach, Luciano Spalletti, was unpopular. A minor criticism of Spalletti from me was that he was rarely seen smiling, instead displaying negative emotions and constantly using negative vocabulary in his interviews. True, he was in an extremely stressful job, and was under intense pressure from fans and journalists alike, but he didn't create a good atmosphere around the club, which could have had severe consequences on the team. In stark contrast, Eusebio Di Francesco can't seem to stop smiling, and has vowed to play entertaining football at Roma. He also looks serious when needed, comprehending the challenge of the task ahead of him. This is a perfect balance and means that, even in the post-Totti era, Roma fans will thoroughly enjoy watching their team. Commendable Youth Policy Whilst as Sassuolo, Di Francesco helped nurture young talents towards delivering their potential. For example, one man who has been linked with Roma, Domenico Berardi, broke into the Sassuolo first team under EDF, and has now become a highly coveted prospect. Roma have a very successful academy currently, so Di Francesco may help any standout youngsters to progress into the first team. Di Francesco has also managed several former Roma players at Sassuolo, or ones out there on loan, meaning the most talented may be encouraged to follow him. With them already knowing the manager, and him knowing them, we may see some of these players have a real go at breaking into the first team at Roma. Former Primavera captain Lorenzo Pellegrini has played under EDF for the past two years, and is expected to soon make his return to the capital. When this happens, there is a real chance that he will flourish under Roma's new head coach - and it's likely that that will be the case for other young players too. All in all, Di Francesco is ready to take the step up and test his abilities at a higher level of football. There is enough evidence already that he should do a fantastic job of this, and his qualities seem to fit what Roma need perfectly. Come August, we will have a good idea of what to expect from Di Francesco's Roma - and we should certainly be excited by it. It's time for the next installment of the Giallorossi Yorkshire season review of 2016/17 - how did Roma's midfield perform?
You probably know the drill by now - the average rating is all the player's ratings over the season added together and divided by the number of games considered (man of the match performances counting double), and the season rating is an evaluation of the season as a whole. Let's start with Roma's new captain, Daniele De Rossi. Daniele De Rossi Average Rating: 8.04 Man of the Match: 5 times Season Rating: 7.5 Midfield general De Rossi had another superb season in the Roma shirt, the only one he has ever worn. At the age of 33, his experience shone through across the campaign, guiding the team with his impeccable knowledge of how to win football matches. He was consistent as usual, marshaling the team from the heart of the pitch where games are won and lost. The Italian international even enjoyed a goalscoring flourish towards the end of the season, netting in three consecutive matches for the first time in his lengthy career (form he has also carried into international duty post-season, with a goal against Uruguay last week). De Rossi was one of Roma's standout performers in 2016/17, and he will continue to lead the team positively and passionately over the next two seasons. Radja Nainggolan Average Rating: 7.83 Man of the Match: 6 times Season Rating: 8.5 Wow. What a season. Radja Nainggolan emerged as one of the best midfielders in world football thanks to his great form in 2016/17. A player who has historically attracted interest from the Premier League's top clubs, the Belgian showed why he is so highly regarded with a string of fantastic performances in an advanced midfield role. He polished some of the finer aspects of his game; for example, in previous seasons, his long-range shooting has, on occasion, been wild, but this season he scored some amazing goals. Notably, his volley against Sampdoria in the Coppa Italia was breathtaking, and his effort from the edge of the box against Inter Milan was chosen by Roma fans as goal of the season on the club's official website. Nainggolan rarely had a bad game during the season, and is rightly beginning to be spoken of in the same breath as some of the world's best midfielders. Kevin Strootman Average Rating: 7.80 Man of the Match: 5 times Season Rating: 8.5 Kevin Strootman became a real source of pride for Roma last season. Once tipped as a potential great, and being the subject of links to elite clubs, disaster struck and he spent two years on the sidelines with injuries. This was his first full season back at the top, and he showed no signs of losing the talent he had possessed pre-injury. He was a consistent, dynamic performer, and ensured his name was one of the first on the team sheet. Strootman was so impressive, you can expect a full article about his season on this website soon. But in summary, he returned to the top and showed his tremendous value, being rewarded at the end with a new five-year contract. Leandro Paredes Average Rating: 6.54 Man of the Match: Once Season Rating: 6 Leandro Paredes' season was a real mixed bag. Returning to the club after impressing on loan at Empoli the season before, he was occasionally sublime (at the back end of 2016, he drew praise from former Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta, and who can forget his stunning goal against Torino?), but in other games he was ineffective. His pass completion stats are impressive (an average of 89% over the season according to www.squawka.com), which shows his talent on the ball and confidence in recycling possession. However, with a Financial Fair Play deadline looming, he may be sold to bring in cash - Juventus have been linked in the Italian papers this morning. With the imminent return of Lorenzo Pellegrini in his position, his gametime may be limited again next season, but he may have shown just enough to suggest he is worth keeping hold of for the post-De Rossi future. Gerson Average Rating: 6.75 Season Rating: 5 When a club like Roma spends in the region on 15 million euros on a South American player, of whatever age, big things are expected. Big things did not come from Gerson. True, this may not have been his fault - he was given few opportunities by Luciano Spalletti, and played reasonably well when he did get a chance - but his season was still disappointing. A loan move to Lille in January fell through, meaning he did not get the minutes he needed to develop. This was touched upon in a Giallorossi Yorkshire article in April (http://giallorossiyorkshire.weebly.com/blog/the-mismanagement-of-gerson). Overall, Gerson was underwhelming in 2016/17, putting his long-term Roma prospects in doubt. Clement Grenier Average Rating: N/A Season Rating: 5.5 The only signing Roma made in a very quiet January transfer window, French playmaker Grenier also had relatively few chances to impress in his first season in Serie A. His campaign was slow - both before and after his arrival - and he did not see many minutes on the pitch. Like Gerson, he did okay when he did play, but his gametime was just too limited for him to have a serious impact. Roma's option to purchase Grenier at the end of his loan was not exercised, meaning he should be playing at Lyon again next season. As a whole, the midfield was possibly Roma's strongest position in 2016/17. Some players showed they are genuinely world class, as they took charge of the engine room to power the team to Champions League qualification. Should the unit stay together, they should ensure Roma's progression in that competition, and domestically, next season. Giallorossi Yorkshire's season review continues with summaries of how Roma's defence fared this season.
Roma have always had good defenders recently, selling on players like Benatia and Marquinhos to major clubs, but have often struggled as a unit. This season, thanks mainly to Federico Fazio's assured presence, the defensive system worked much better together. In case you missed the first part of the season review, players are given an average rating and a season rating. The average rating is the sum of all their scores out of ten from the matches I watched this season, with man of the match performances counting double, divided by the number of games considered. The season rating is how I judged them overall. So who impressed most in Roma's backline? Alessandro Florenzi Average Rating: 7.5 Man of the Match: Once Season Rating: 6 It almost seems strange to remember that Alessandro Florenzi played this season. He has been plagued by injury, with two cruciate ligament injuries ruling him out for most of the season. Needless to say, when he returns, it will be a slow process, much like the slow integration of Kevin Strootman back into the first team after his similar troubles. When Florenzi did play at the start of the season, he showed the consistency that he has become associated with. A versatile player if there ever was one, realisation of Florenzi's impact on this team came not when he played, but when he was absent. His passion and ability was missed throughout this season, and hopefully next year we will see him return to the pitch. Kostas Manolas Average Rating: 6.20 Man of the Match: None Season Rating: 6 By his standards, Kostas Manolas had a disappointing season. Particularly towards the end of the season, he was at fault for some crucial goals conceded by Roma. He certainly did not look the coveted centre back that has attracted attention from Europe's elite. He has stated he wants to stay in Rome, which is a good sign, but is demanding a payrise that may not be warranted given the season he has just had. Nevertheless, you can expect a player of his ability to bounce back and find top class form again next season. He has various ideal qualities for a centre half, and is at a good age, so should do better next time around. Thomas Vermaelen Average Rating: 6.2 Man of the Match: None Season Rating: 4 Another defender to have a disappointing season, Vermaelen - who has had injury troubles over the past couple of years - looked shaky when he managed to find a rare appearance for Roma this season. Occasionally he played well, but overall, he did not look to be one of Roma's strongest options at the back. It is unlikely Roma will sign him permanently from Barcelona. Juan Jesus Average Rating: 5.53 Man of the Match: None Season Rating: 6 A definite contender for most improved player of the season, Brazilian defender Jesus had a difficult start to the season, playing mainly as a left back, but found form when Roma switched to a back three half way through the season. This is a system he is most comfortable in, as it suits his qualities best. He became a consistent performer in this formation and showed great signs of improvement, becoming a reliable figure at the back. Emerson Palmieri Average Rating: 6.61 Man of the Match: None Season Rating: 8 The surprise package of 2016/17, we got a hint of left back Emerson's potential at the back end of the prior season, with Spalletti giving him a run of games culminating in a goal against Milan. This form carried over into this season, and he established himself as a first team regular. He even sometimes appeared on the right hand side of defence as cover, despite being left footed. This was a great help to the team and showed his adaptability. He switched allegiance to Italy this year, and was about to be capped by Ventura, before an untimely ACL injury ended his great season. Federico Fazio Average Rating: 6.68 Man of the Match: Four times Season Rating: 8.5 Premier League reject Fazio found some of the greatest form of his career at Roma this season. The former Tottenham and Sevilla man was easily Roma's best centre back, exuding calmness and responsibility at the back. He is good on the ball, good at marking, and good at reading the game. He even managed to make one of Europe's best defenders, Kostas Manolas, look weak in comparison. Without a doubt, Fazio was one of the best players of Roma's 2016/17, and hopefully will stay in the Italian capital. Bruno Peres Average Rating: 5.77 Man of the Match: None Season Rating: 5.5 Oh, Bruno Peres. The man who had arrived at Roma with so much promise. The man who many believed would be the answer to Roma's right back problem. And it just didn't happen. For whatever reason, the Brazilian didn't live up to his reputation, something he himself nobly acknowledged. His first half of the season was decent, but the remainder of the year was almost disastrous, as he was kept out of the team by Antonio Rudiger (a centre back) and Emerson (a left back), and when he did play, he was lacking quality. Better things were expected from a player who had promised so much. Antoni0 Rudiger Average Rating: 6.19 Man of the Match: None Season Rating: 7.5 Recovering from a serious ligament injury which kept him out of Euro 2o16 (a tournament he would surely have done well in), Rudiger's season started a little later than most, but he made up for it in quality. With a big reputation to follow given his excellent debut season in Italy, Rudiger once again lived up to the pressure of playing for Roma. Playing at either centre back or right back, and adapting as part of a back four or back three, he had another solid season, and is yet again the subject of interest from other clubs. No less than 40 million euros is expected to move him. Mario Rui Average Rating: N/A Man of the Match: Once Season Rating: 6 Another player who missed the start of the season through injury, Rui would surely have had a good season had he not damaged his knee ligaments in pre-season. Unfortunately, he was sidelined for a good portion of the season, debuting in January. He was understandably a little off the pace, but showed signs of being a good full back, capable of defending well and putting in good crosses for his strikers. It is unknown where he will be next year - his former boss at Empoli, Maurizio Sarri, is interested in taking him to Napoli. All in all, a good season for Roma's defence, which saw just 38 league goals conceded. Only the champions Juventus conceded less, which, given their defensive reputation, is a good indicator of Roma's defensive success in 2016/17. Some time soon, the 'S' in AS Roma may no longer stand for Sportiva, but for Sassuolo.
Multiple Neroverdi players are being linked with Roma this summer, not least because their current manager, Eusebio Di Francesco, is expected to take over at the Olimpico. Recent reports suggested the deal to bring their former player EDF back to Roma had hit a stumbling block, as Sassuolo are demanding his release clause is met in full. This has led to other names from further afield being linked to the job, such as Unai Emery of PSG, ex-France boss Laurent Blanc, and Thomas Tuchel, who recently left Borussia Dortmund. If Di Francesco does return to Roma as a manager, it is likely that some Sassuolo players will follow him. Whoever takes charge though, we could still expect to see these current Sassuolo players at Roma next season: Lorenzo Pellegrini Former Roma Primavera captain Pellegrini was sold to Sassuolo two seasons ago, with Roma maintaining a buyback clause on the midfielder. Sassuolo's director general Giovanni Carnevali confirmed in May that Roma will exercise that clause, having wanted to do so in January. Pellegrini will then either stay and develop at his hometown club, or be sold on for a bigger fee. It was reported that AC Milan were interested in him, but since they signed Franck Kessie from Atalanta last week, they may not feel the need to move for another midfielder. Consequently, and with Roma sporting director Monchi a fan of Pellegrini, we may see Lorenzo playing for Roma in 2017/18. Domenico Berardi Italian U21 forward Berardi is an Inter Milan supporter, and the San Siro club have apparently expressed an interest in him. Despite this, it is reported (by Sportitalia, last week) that he would be willing to come to Roma if his current manager does so too, with the prospect of Champions League football also a strong selling point. EDF has apparently earmarked him as an ideal replacement for Mohamed Salah, who is being linked with Liverpool, as he is a left footed player playing on the right wing. At the age of only 22, he is already his club's all-time leading scorer. Matteo Politano Another former Roma youth player, Politano has been at Sassuolo since 2015. Like Berardi, he is a left-footed right winger. Politano recorded five goals and six assists in Serie A this season, and when quizzed recently on whether he would like to follow EDF to Roma by Rai Sport, he said, "Who wouldn't want that?" Francesco Acerbi Giallorossi Yorkshire linked centre back Acerbi to Roma on 24th May, after he announced he would be leaving the club in the summer. Following those links, the Italian defender was indeed linked with Roma in the press. With the future of Antonio Rudiger unclear, Acerbi may be an ideal signing for Roma - and Roma would be a good club for him, as he looks to play at another level. Gregoire Defrel Roma's January transfer window went by reasonably quietly, with Clement Grenier the sole addition. One name that was frequently linked with Roma during that month was French forward Defrel. The 25-year-old has spent his whole career in Italy, and can play as a central striker or on either wing. Football Italia reported last month that a deal to bring Defrel to Rome may still be on, with Monchi interested in the striker. This season, Edin Dzeko was Roma's sole centre forward, so the club may be looking to quickly add cover in this department, despite Dzeko's outstanding season. It should also be noted that winger Federico Ricci spent the season on loan at Sassuolo from Roma, so if Di Francesco does take over in Rome, it will be interesting to see whether he has ideas for the 23-year-old. He made just 13 starts in all competitions in 2016/17. It is suggested that Di Francesco may already be shaping Roma's transfer window, as he has apparently told the club to keep Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti, two players who other clubs have shown interest in, but he is apparently keen on working with, according to the Corriere Dello Sport. In the first installment of Giallorossi Yorkshire's review of Roma's 2016/17 season, let's take a look at how the club's goalkeepers fared this season.
An average rating will be given to each player across this series, and a season rating. The average rating is determined by adding together the players' ratings out of 10 from all the Roma games I watched this season, with ratings counting double if I deemed the player to be Roma's man of the match on that occasion, then dividing by the number of games considered that the player featured in. (Sub appearances count as half an appearance.) The season rating is my judgement of how the player performed on the whole this season, again, a score out of ten. Let's start by reviewing Roma's goalkeepers. Wojciech Szczesny Average Rating: 6.5 Man of the Match: Once Season Rating: 8 Polish keeper Szczesny had a solid second season in Rome. Taking the number one shirt this season, he found great form and recorded 14 clean sheets in Serie A. He remained alert in big games, something that he has to some extent struggled with in the past, and showed how reliable he was for this team. It is unclear where Szczesny will be next season - he may return to Arsenal, but has been linked with Juventus (quite strongly), Napoli, and still could join Roma permanently. Whatever happens, Szczesny had a fantastic season, and the club's league position may have been different had he not performed so well. Bogdan Lobont Average Rating: N/A Season Rating: N/A Once again, 39-year-old keeper Lobont was... well, there, this season. His experience is beneficial to the club's other goalkeepers, but he did not make a single appearance during the campaign. Of course, that means he conceded less goals than any other Roma keeper, but anyway... Alisson Becker Average Rating: 6.25 Man of the Match: None Season Rating: 7 In his debut season in Europe, Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson was limited to just cup appearances. He made a decent account of himself in many of those games and seems an assured presence between the sticks. More opportunities may come his way next season if Szczesny doesn't return, and at 24, he is at a good age to continue improving and developing at Roma. |
samuel bannister
Founder and editor of Giallorossi Yorkshire, who is also a columnist for Roma's official website about the women's team. Categories
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