GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
It's Friday, which means it's time for another dream Roma five-a-side team on Giallorossi Yorkshire. Today is the turn of a fellow Leeds-based Roma fan.
Name: Dec Campbell Location: Leeds, England Team: Doni - Not exactly known for their rich history of goalkeepers, at least not in my generation. I’ve gone for Doni, a loyal servant for Roma during his six-year stint, most notably for his influence in-between the sticks during Roma’s back-to-back Coppa Italia triumphs. He just gets the nod over Alisson due to experience in the capital. Juan - The man mountain, for me, an underrated figure in Roman football. His goal against Inter at the Olimpico in our 4-0 demolition of the Milan giants will live long in the memory. Daniele De Rossi - No doubt a popular choice throughout this series. Our new leader, forged from the remains of the Colosseum, there is no hating this man. Watching him dominate opponents in midfield while simultaneously being the clubs playmaker is a joy to watch. Francesco Totti - Again, there aren’t enough superlatives to describe our love for this man. The most underrated player in the history of the game, the man literally chose a less-illustrious career in terms of trophies to play for his beloved Rome. Every through-ball, every chip of the keeper and every flick would make even a Lazio fan smile (probably not). The only man in Italy more popular than the pope. Mirko Vucinic - A controversial choice due to his later commitments to Juventus, but a legend in my eyes nonetheless. Another big player in my early decision to follow the Giallorossi, his pace and power was a joy to watch. The man loved to score screamers, a cult hero in my eyes and a player I will never forget.
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Grazie, Radja. Grazie tantissimo.
Thank you, Radja. It pains me that we will never see you playing in the red-and-yellow colours of Roma again. Even more so that we will have to see you in the blue-and-black of Inter. But we know, deep down inside, whatever colours adorn your shirt, your heart will always beat giallorosso. This club will always be a part of you. What are we going to do now? Who can replace your energy, determination, never-say-die attitude? Who can bring us the joy that you so often have? You are a unique player; you are irreplaceable. You are the perfect storm of a midfielder. Players come and players go, but the fans remember the ones who fought for the badge. The ones who gave everything for the team and adopted the colours of the club as their own. You were one of those players, Radja. You gave every last sinew of energy for Roma. Clubs don't come across players like you very often. Players as willing, players as hungry as you. They are few and far between. You are a player who goes about your business without complaint, reaching extraordinary levels of power and ability, and inspiring others to do the same through your leadership. I don't know how long it will be until we get another like you. When I visited Stadio Olimpico for my first ever Roma match four years ago, you were one of the standout players. It was such an eye-catching performance. The way you covered the ground was incredible, your range of passing impressive. Over the years following, you proved yourself to be the complete midfielder. You have everything that could be desired in a midfield player. Everything. Four years ago you caught my eye; in the time since then, you caught my heart. You proved yourself to be a genuine Roman warrior, with immense levels of fortitude. But away from the pitch, you assumed a new personality. Your smile was infectious, your teammates fond of your kindness. Oh, Radja! How painful it is that we won't be sharing those smiles with you any more! Throughout your time at the club, you stayed fiercely loyal. The biggest clubs in the world came in for you, but you stayed at Roma out of your pride and passion for the club. You showed a loyalty that many other players have not, and you developed a sense of belonging here. Unfortunately, the days when you had a choice over your future at Roma have come to an end. It's sad to see you go, and I know you understand how much the fans will miss you. I know the feeling is mutual; that if it was up to you, you would be playing for Roma again next season. But sometimes our fate is decided for us, and now it's time for us both to turn to a new chapter. It won't be easy, but over time we will both come to terms with it. It will take a while, but at some point in the future it will sink in. One thing's for sure - after four-and-a-half seasons, 201 games, 26 assists and 33 goals (many of them incredible), you will never be forgotten at this club. Grazie Ninja. Grazie per tutto. Per sempre uno di noi. Every Friday on Giallorossi Yorkshire, a Roma fan selects their ideal all-time Roma five-a-side team. Today is the turn of Peter Gibbs.
Name: Peter Gibbs Location: Bedford, England Team: Alisson Becker: I suppose I'd better choose him while I can. Without his saves, would Roma be in the CL next year? He has made that kind of difference to the team. Decisive, instinctive and superb. For me, he has been what we've been crying out for in a goalkeeper, for as long as I can remember. Cafu: I have a real soft-spot for Aldair but I'll go for this guy... Ridiculously gifted and made defending cool! Il Pendolino was an iconic player who deservedly won pretty much everything there is to win. Daniele De Rossi: I had his ability (foolishly doubted by myself at the time) pointed out to me by a very friendly local, on one of my first trips to watch Roma. I couldn't take my eyes off his control of the midfield throughout the game, and ever since. A bruising, honest, beating heart of the team. Deserves wider acclaim. Francesco Totti: What can anyone say that hasn't already been said? A fantastic footballer, icon and example. The sheer audacity to attempt to try, and skill to actually pull off such footballing vision and brilliance, are what defines a true great in my eyes. I wish I had a fraction of his skill, and many more players had his loyalty. Gabriel Batistuta: I'm front-loading my team! Blame Zeman... Anyway, definitely one of our best 'bombers'. A spectacular attacker. Batistuta and Totti sum up calcio for me. Fascinating, almost exotic, and rock 'n' roll football! How I've moaned about lacking a forward of his dependability for so many years! Today is the birthday of one of the greatest Roma forwards in recent memory. Vincenzo Montella spent ten years with the club, from 1999 to 2009, going down in Roma folklore for his tremendous goalscoring ability. He lies sixth on the club's all-time scoring chart. He also spent a brief period as Roma's caretaker manager in 2011. Relive some of the best moments of his career with these three moments of magic. Goal vs Milan, 2000/01 In 2001, L'aeroplanino scored a beautiful goal against one of the clubs he would later coach. Receiving the ball wide left, he showed elegant control of the ball whilst dribbling inside, before chipping the ball from distance over Milan keeper Sebastiano Rossi. The goal secured a valuable point in the race for the Scudetto, which would be sealed two games later against Parma. Bicycle kick vs Chievo, 2004/05 Montella gained a new lease of life in the 2004/05 season, scoring 17 more goals than he had in the previous campaign. One of those came against Chievo, and was another example of stunning technique. A cross came in from the left, and Roma's number 9 executed an overhead kick to score. There was nothing the goalkeeper could do. Derby Della Capitale, 2001/02 Montella loved scoring against Lazio, which endeared him to the Roma fans (only three players have scored more derby goals than him). In 2002, he was instrumental in one of the best derbies in Roma's history. Fabio Capello's side stormed to a 5-1 win over their rivals, in a game memorable for an extraordinary Francesco Totti goal. The other four that day were all scored by Montella, in a superb individual display. The pinnacle of his quadruple was a left-footed belter from outside the box, which flew into the top corner of Angelo Peruzzi's net. This week's edition of Five-a-Side Friday sees a team with players from each of Roma's three Scudetto triumphs.
Name: Paolo Campbell Location: North West, England Team: Guido Masetti - Goalkeeper who won Roma’s first ever Scudetto success and also picked up two World Cup winners medals. Cafu - One of Brazil’s all time great defenders who Il Pendolino played over 100 times in Serie A for Roma and was a key factor in their Scudetto success in 2001. Aldair - Brazil have never had too many great centre-backs but Aldair was one of them. In 13 seasons at the club he made 415 appearances, winning the Scudetto in 2001 with Fabio Capello Bruno Conti - Could be Italia's greatest winger, he made over 300 Serie A appearances for the club winning the Scudetto in 1983. A tricky wideman who could run rings around most players, he played a big part in Italia's 1982 World Cup win. Francesco Totti - Enough said. The time has come to finally draw a curtain on Roma's 2017-18 season, with the selection of the Giallorossi Yorkshire awards.
Which players and moments have been singled out for extra praise? Do you agree with the winners? Have a look at the eight awards listed below. Signing of the Season - Aleksandar Kolarov Brought in for his experience and quality for just €5m, Kolarov hit the ground running as soon as he arrived at Roma from Manchester City. He made an immediate impact in the left back role, making the position his own with his impressive displays. His clever free kick against Atalanta on the opening day helped give his side three points, and showed how he can think ahead of his opponents. His strong character has also contributed to Roma's successes this season. Young Player of the Season - Cengiz Under Another summer 2017 arrival, Cengiz Under showed what the hype was about in 2017-18 with a string of world class goals. In general, the team were over-reliant on Edin Dzeko to beat opposing goalkeepers during the season, but in the New Year, Under took responsibility and often got on the scoresheet himself. Still only 20, and despite not speaking Italian yet, he has made a big impact in his first season with the club. Old Player of the Season - Aleksandar Kolarov Some people doubted whether or not Kolarov could've consistently been Roma's first choice left back at his age, but he played so well that he ensured he was always one of the first names on the teamsheet. He barely missed a game, testament to his fitness and competitive spirit. The 32-year-old could've used a rest at some points in the season, but that's an indication of how hard he was working for the team. He refused to let his teammates down. Most Improved Player - Cengiz Under The young winger had a season of two halves, making fans wait until 2018 to see his true ability. He didn't get many opportunities towards the start of the season, but upon the turn of the year, Eusebio Di Francesco began to entrust him with starts. Under repaid the coach's faith, turning heads with his long-range wonder goals. The exciting thing is, Cengiz still has some more things to improve on - meaning he can become an even more exciting player in the future. Most Consistent Player - Alisson Becker Some Roma players went through patches of sublime form and periods of less success. Stephan El Shaarawy and Diego Perotti immediately spring to mind. One player who could always be relied upon, however, was Alisson Becker. The goalkeeper barely made any mistakes throughout the season, and was always a calm presence between the posts. He just never had an off-day, meaning Roma were always in safe hands. Italian Player of the Season - Daniele De Rossi De Rossi made his experience and passion for the shirt count again in 2017-18. In his first season as club captain, De Rossi led by example, and made sure he had a part to play in Roma's best nights. For example, taking the penalty in the second leg against Barcelona, to make it 2-0, required nerves of steel. De Rossi stepped up when it mattered, helping to send Roma to the Champions League semi finals, and proved himself to still be the beating heartbeat of the club. Goal of the Season - Edin Dzeko vs Chelsea (volley) Was it really going to be anything else? Roma have scored some great goals over the season, but Edin Dzeko's left-footed volley against Chelsea was something special. Thibaut Courtois had virtually no chance of stopping the thunderbolt, a goal made even more beautiful by the inch-perfect assist from Federico Fazio. It has been described as the best goal of Dzeko's career, and perhaps even one of the best goals in Roma's history. And deservedly so - this goal was from another planet. Player of the Season - Alisson Becker When it counted this season, Alisson was always there. He pulled off a countless number of unbelievable saves, playing a pivotal role in Roma's success in Serie A and the Champions League. He has been so impressive, that many have proclaimed him to be the best goalkeeper they have seen in a Roma shirt. The levels of appreciation he has gained is reflective of his immense ability. This season, Alisson propelled himself right among the top five goalkeepers in world football. Congratulations to all the 2017-18 Giallorossi Yorkshire award winners, for their efforts in helping the team succeed throughout the season. These players have stood out for their ability and passion, and have given their all for the Roma shirt. The season may be over, but these players have provided moments that will live long in the memory of Roma supporters. Here's to many more next season. Giallorossi Yorkshire's regular feature, Five-a-Side Friday, returns - as two players are picked for the first time.
Name: Anton Petrov Gaydarov Location: Birmingham, England Team: Goalkeeper: Ivan Pelizzoli Cafu – One of the best right backs Roma has ever had and of the best in the world for his generation. Won World Cup and Serie A title. World class player · Daniele De Rossi – True Roman. Doesn’t impress with techniques and pace but definitely the heart of the team. At his age still plays amazing football and did lead his team to CL semi-final. · Mohamed Salah – His amazing pace and skills were fully developed in his spell at Roma. He showed everyone that he is a world class player and went on to prove it last season. Definitely one of the best wingers/forwards we had in long time. Francesco Totti – The one and only Totti. Never changed the colours of Roma. Arguably the best player in Roma history and we are so privileged to have witnessed his magic on the pitch. Won the Scudetto and World Cup. (Sub: Kostas Manolas – He’s been the main man in defence for long time now. He shows incredible passion to play for the club and always gives everything in the games. Playing at his best, he can stop any opponent. Always shows real spirit and character.) Coach: Fabio Capello Giallorossi Yorkshire's season review continues with the final instalment of player ratings from 2017-18.
This time, the club's forwards go under the spotlight for their performances. Each is given an average rating (the sum of all their GY ratings from the season divided by the number of games considered, ratings counting double if they were named GY man of the match), and a season rating (an evaluation of how they did overall). Let's take a look. Diego Perotti Average Rating: 8.52 Man of the Match: 5 times Season Rating: 7 Perotti had a fairly successful season out on the left wing, and was under consideration for a place in Argentina's World Cup squad, which he just missed out on. He's still a little inconsistent, but Perotti has sharpened up a few aspects of his game this season, scoring more from open play than usual. In some games - such as the away Champions League fixture against Chelsea - he was unplayable. In others, he struggled, meaning his future at the club is uncertain. Edin Dzeko Average Rating: 6.77 Man of the Match: 2 times Season Rating: 8 Dzeko carried on his outstanding form for Roma into his third season with the club, scoring a number of vital goals that helped Roma gain points and advance to the late stages of the Champions League. For an in-depth look at his season, read this article, by myself, on Roma's official website. Patrik Schick Average Rating: 6.55 Man of the Match: 0 times Season Rating: 6 Signed for a club-record fee in the summer, Schick's Roma career got off to a slow start because of injury. It took him some time to record his first Serie A goal for the club after his return, as he was forced out to the right wing. Later on in the season, he showed some signs of regaining his sharpness, setting up an intriguing season for him next year. Cengiz Under Average Rating: 6.6 Man of the Match: 3 times Season Rating: 7 Signed with potential and promise, Under found opportunities limited in the first half of the season, but in the New Year, took his chance and never looked back. After breaking his Roma duck against Verona in February, Cengiz went on a sensational scoring run - and most of them were beauties. He still has some things to learn, but like Schick, should have a very exciting next season ahead of him. Gregoire Defrel Average Rating: 5.57 Man of the Match: 0 times Season Rating: 4 Where to start? Defrel has been a massive disappointment this season, failing to make any sort of impact on the team. He is another player who hasn't benefitted from being played out of position, but regardless, his basic football skills aren't clear to see. It took a penalty against bottom side Benevento to give him his only Roma goal. His effort can't be faulted, but at a club like Roma, you have to back that up with quality - and Defrel has drastically failed to do that this season. Mirko Antonucci Average Rating: N/A Man of the Match: 0 times Season Rating: N/A Antonucci was handed a couple of first team appearances by Eusebio Di Francesco in the games against Sampdoria at the end of January, and took his chance to impress. On his club debut, with Roma trailing in stoppage time, the youngster picked out Edin Dzeko with a perfect left-footed cross. The assist was an excellent display of composure and technique from Antonucci - but it's about all he can be judged on, as he had few other opportunities. He may have to work on his physicality if he is to make himself a future at Roma. Stephan El Shaarawy Average Rating: 8.19 Man of the Match: 5 times Season Rating: 7 A tough one to judge. Like his competitor for the left wing spot, Diego Perotti, El Shaarawy has become characterised by inconsistency. He has done better this season than some people say, but has still had too many off days. However, when on form, he has been terrific. His brace in the 3-0 win over Chelsea, including an opening minute rocket, will never be forgotten. He shone on the right-hand side that night, showing versatility, but has since returned to his favoured left side. It remains to be seen where his place in the team - if at all - will be next season. And so conclude the Giallorossi Yorkshire player ratings for the 2017-18 season. Stay tuned to the site over the coming days for the end-of-season awards. |
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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