GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Roma were extremely unlucky not to pick up any points against Inter upon Luciano Spalletti's return to the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening. In a game where they were on top for long periods, the team will be devastated to have thrown it away. There are positives and negatives to take from the game - this is what became clear over the 90 minutes.
+ Nainggolan Fuels Energy Into Performance Radja Nainggolan wasn't quite at the races against Atalanta on the opening weekend but his performance against Inter was a big improvement. Angry at his shocking omission from the Belgium squad, and claiming pre-match that he is now giving "everything" for Roma, he turned his frustration into a great performance. Nainggolan made five recoveries, created two chances and also had a couple of very good efforts on goal from outside the box, as we became accustomed to seeing last season. His assist for Dzeko's goal was sublime. And he still has more to give. + Perotti Shines Despite Criticism Diego Perotti has been the subject of undue criticism from some Roma fans recently. However, he was a level above against Inter. The best Roma player on the night, Perotti caused several problems for Inter right back Danilo D'Ambrosio with his pacy runs forward. For those who have called into question his ability to shoot, his effort which struck the crossbar in the second half will be something to think about. Perotti had an excellent game. + Defrel Puts In A Shift Like Nainggolan, Defrel's season didn't get off to the finest start last weekend, but he showed signs of improvement last night. Of course, he's no Mohamed Salah, but he gave glimpses of some pace during his 63 minute spell. He also worked hard defensively, helping out Juan Jesus who was deployed as a makeshift right back. Inter did not score until he left the pitch, perhaps a reflection of his work rate. - Poor Marking Costs Roma There's no doubt about it, Mauro Icardi is one of the best strikers in Serie A - arguably the best. So, you cannot afford to give him even a yard of space, or you will be punished. That's exactly what Roma's defence did twice, as Federico Fazio was not tight enough to his fellow Argentine for Inter's first goal. Icardi's second was similar, as no defender was close enough to him to prevent him from having a shot. And against a lethal striker, that is far too dangerous. - Strange Decisions From EDF Eusebio Di Francesco made a couple of interesting decisions over the course of the game. Tactically, for the most part, Roma did well, but it was the coach's choice of personnel that was questionable. As Roma were chasing the game late on, he took off Perotti and replaced him with Marco Tumminello. Whilst the coach is renowned for his use of youth players, it wasn't the right time for Tumminello to come on. Perotti had just won a free kick which he looked interested in taking - from an angle that favoured a right-footer - but was taken off then. Left-footed Kolarov had to take the free kick and nothing came from it. Roma had sacrificed their danger man and wasted a chance. There was to be no way back into the game. - The Squad Still Needs Additions We are approaching the end of the transfer market and it has been over a month since Roma last added to the squad. However, there are still gaps in the team, as we found out yesterday. Hints were given that a new centre back is needed, and other areas were called into question. There are rumours that Patrik Schick is about to sign as another forward, but he may not be the last addition of the summer should he arrive. Monchi will be a very busy man over the next few days.
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In the wake of an extremely embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Celta Vigo, something needs to change.
Regardless of the fact that it was a friendly, and that barely any of the starting eleven are expected to be starters when the season begins next week, going down 4-0 at half time is unacceptable. Yes, they may not have been Roma’s first choice players, but eight of them are capped at senior international level. That scoreline should never have been witnessed. Following the humiliating result, head coach Eusebio Di Francesco correctly accepted the blame for the defeat, saying “the responsibility always lies with the coach.” Indeed, while he arrived this summer with great promise, it appears he has a lot to learn when it comes to coaching a top level club. Tactically, there are two options you can take going into a pre-season. You can either set out with a desired formation and work heavily on it, or you can experiment and try out many different systems. Di Francesco opted for the former, always using the 4-3-3 system he favoured previously at Sassuolo. There are a number of flaws in his decision to do this. A trainer may have a favoured formation, one that they understand best, but they have to be able to fit their players to it. If they cannot, they should opt for the formation which best suits the available players. The 4-3-3 that Di Francesco likes to play, featuring inverted attacking wingers, is not the best option for some of Roma’s key players. Firstly, let’s look at two of last year’s best performers, Federico Fazio and Radja Nainggolan. Neither of them benefit from this system. Fazio performs better in a back three, whilst Nainggolan excelled in an attacking midfield role in a 4-2-3-1 last year. Now the Belgian is less free to join in the attacks like he did last season. The team should be built around its best players, but Di Francesco’s tactics so far have not brought the best out of these two. Another issue is Di Francesco’s reliance on having a left-footed, offensive right winger to cut inside and contribute to the team’s goal output. With this in mind, the loss of Mohamed Salah to Liverpool this summer was a massive blow, and the club haven’t yet been able to find a replacement for him. However, if Di Francesco selected a different formation, perhaps the Egyptian wouldn’t need to be replaced. For example, in parts of last season, Roma played a 3-4-2-1. The coach would be wise to consider using this formation again. It would allow Nainggolan to return to the attacking third, meaning only one space in that section of the pitch would be left vacant. This could easily be filled by a player already at the club, such as Diego Perotti or Stephan El Shaarawy. The competition between these two players for a starting spot is one of great debate between Roma fans. In my opinion, Perotti had a much better season than El Shaarawy in 2016/17, but he could be frozen out of the team in Di Francesco’s system. El Shaarawy is a much more natural fit for these tactics, despite Perotti possessing greater technical ability. Again, that means not getting the best out of your best players. That is simply illogical. Back to a 3-4-2-1 though, and Perotti would be comfortably suitable for the attacking midfield role alongside Nainggolan. El Shaarawy would also fit the position, and therefore the competition between the two would mean they would increase each other’s levels of performance, fighting for that starting spot. Cengiz Under would be another option there, meaning there would be plenty of depth for the area. Thus, more money could be spent on signing a new centre back, which is also currently an area of concern in this team. One defender at the club who also performs better in a back three is Juan Jesus. The left-sided centre back went through a great upturn in form last season, which coincided with the tactical switch to a 3-4-2-1 at the turn of the year. In a back four, he struggled, and there is reason to believe he could again. That would be very unfortunate for a player who I chose as Roma’s most improved player last season. Next, Edin Dzeko scored 16 goals in games in which Roma started with a 3-4-2-1 last season, more than he scored in the entirety of his first season in Rome – half of which was played under a coach who used a 4-3-3. After being the league’s top scorer last year, no one would want to see Dzeko struggle in front of goal again – but he did in a similar system two years ago. He scored two goals this pre-season for Roma; it will be interesting to see how his season goes. He should feel confident after last year, but we will have to see how this system serves him. Lorenzo Pellegrini may also benefit from a 3-4-2-1. Whilst he has played under Di Francesco for the past two years and understands the movements his coach wants him to make as part of a midfield three, he could also do well in a central midfield duo. This year, he made his senior Italy debut alongside fellow Roman Daniele De Rossi, and they were the only two central midfielders used by Gian Piero Ventura. Playing a 3-4-2-1 could allow De Rossi and Pellegrini to develop this partnership further (when the latter is on the pitch), and would also help the young midfielder grow. There are crossover elements between the 3-4-2-1 I am suggesting and Di Francesco’s system. Both incorporate attacking full backs, needed to create width, something that EDF has understood and used throughout his coaching career. This would be good for the likes of Bruno Peres and Rick Karsdorp, who are both full backs who like to attack. The extra protection at the back would afford them even more freedom than the current system, and they could contribute a lot going forwards. Di Francesco is a professional, and Roma fans should trust his judgement and ability. But a top coach needs to have several different formations at their disposal for their team to be competitive. And if things carry on like they did yesterday, EDF will need to think long and hard about whether he can use his preferred system at his new club. At the minute, it won’t work unless Roma invest in a top quality centre back and an equally good right winger, which would strain the club financially. Switch to a 3-4-2-1, and one of those problems is immediately solved, meaning the other could be sorted more easily. For every problem, there is a solution, and this shape may be the answer to Di Francesco’s problems if they continue. Suggested Roma line up using a 3-4-2-1 (with all players fully fit): Alisson; Manolas, Fazio, Jesus/Kolarov (or a new CB); Karsdorp, De Rossi, Strootman, Emerson; Nainggolan, Perotti/Florenzi; Dzeko The number 13 is unlucky for some, so they say. If you happen to be of a superstitious persuasion, you may well place Bruno Peres in that group of unlucky people. A player who arrived at Roma last season with a lot of promise, he failed to deliver to the levels expected of him. His season was remarkably underwhelming.
New season, new number, new start. For the upcoming season, the Brazilian defender has switched from 13 to the number 25 shirt, and will hope a change in fortunes comes with it. Can he achieve an upturn in form in his second year with the club, just as striker Edin Dzeko did after his miserable first season in Rome? His new head coach, Eusebio Di Francesco, may provide him with the opportunity to succeed. As a wing back, Peres has tended to offer more going forward than in defence during his career. While last season's goal tally of two does not reflect this, Peres will be eager to improve on it. A key component of Di Francesco's tactics relates to the distance his full backs are required to cover. Since he deploys inverted wingers, his full backs are required to venture forward to create options in wide areas. This could benefit Peres, as it is compatible with his attacking style of play. Given that Di Francesco will give him a license to get forward, he will look to contribute to the team's attacking play, as he wants to do. Another thing that may allow Peres to hit the ground running this season is the injury to new signing Rick Karsdorp. His fellow right back underwent surgery shortly after joining Roma this summer, and although Karsdorp may be seen as first choice when he returns to full fitness (in September, it is expected), he will have missed out on the benefits of a full pre-season that Bruno Peres has experienced. Unlike his Dutch teammate, Peres will be entering the new season at high fitness levels and armed with knowledge of his coach's demands. This may help him to start the season well - and if he does that, he could nail down his place in the side for the whole campaign, as Emerson Palmieri did on the left hand side of defence last season. Whilst Peres's first season at Roma left an awful lot to be desired, he is starting the new season with a clean slate. Di Francesco has already commented in the press that he needs to work closely with him to improve his defending, and this is entirely reasonable, but there are technicalities in his system that can work in the 27-year-old's favour. Whether they do or not, will become clear in the first months of the new season. What is clear already though, is that it will be a long campaign, and Peres will have several opportunities to prove himself throughout it. |
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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