GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Every Friday since January on Giallorossi Yorkshire, Roma fans have been choosing their dream five-a-side teams made up of players from the club's history. Which five Roma players, from any era, would be your preferred choices in a game of five-a-side football? Legends from the past, more recent Roma players, or a mix of both? For those of you interested in being featured in future editions of Five-a-Side Friday, there is now an easy way to submit your team. Simply fill out the form below with your five choices (one goalkeeper and four outfield players), outlining why you have chosen them in a couple of sentences. Italian speakers are also welcome to submit their teams - you can write in Italian and Giallorossi Yorkshire will translate for you, if that is easier. Please also include your location and Twitter handle (if applicable). You will be notified during the coming weeks to inform you when your team is going to be featured. Thanks to everyone who takes part!
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Roma play their second game in the space of five days tonight, as they travel north to face AC Milan.
It's a huge clash between two Italian giants early in the season. Last year, both fixtures ended as 2-0 wins to the away side. Goals from Edin Dzek0 and Alessandro Florenzi wrapped up an October victory at San Siro, but the reverse fixture at Stadio Olimpico was one of Roma's worst performances of last season. Despite Financial Fair Play scrutiny over Milan, both sides were very active in the transfer market this summer, meaning we could see different protagonists taking centre stage tonight. Milan signed the likes of Mattia Caldara, Gonzalo Higuain and Samu Castillejo, while Roma new boys Ante Coric, Davide Santon and Ivan Marcano are yet to make their competitive debuts for the club. In his pre-match press conference, Eusebio Di Francesco confirmed that Steven Nzonzi could make his first start for the club, and Rick Karsdorp could start for the first time this season. However, neither are expected to complete 90 minutes due to fitness concerns. For the opponents, Milan are expected to field a 4-3-3, with Hakan Calhanoglu, Caldara and Ignazio Abate set to come into the starting lineup after missing their 3-2 loss at Napoli. Higuain is expected to lead the line; he hasn't scored against Roma since December 2016. Roma will wear their new yellow third shirt for the first time this evening. The game kicks off at 7:30pm UK time. Possible Roma lineup: Olsen, Karsdorp, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov, Nzonzi, De Rossi, Under, Pastore, El Shaarawy, Dzeko Roma's first home game of the season ended as a 3-3 draw against Atalanta on Monday night. Javier Pastore opened the scoring early on, before the away side put themselves 3-1 in front. Roma had to claw their way back into the game, scoring two second half goals to secure the draw. It means Roma are on four points from two games. Here is a detailed look at all six goals. Goal one: Pastore (1-0) Pastore scored his first goal for the club in quite some style. The move began on the right flank, as Alessandro Florenzi threaded it through to Cengiz Under. The Turkish winger cut back onto his favoured left foot to deliver a cross, easily beating the defender, whose momentum took him beyond Under. The cross was lightly weighted, meaning it was falling just in front of Pastore, who had run closer to the near post. With the ball dropping as it approached Pastore, the summer signing expertly backheeled it into the bottom corner. It showed excellent spatial awareness from Pastore and great technique. Goal two: Castagne (1-1) Atalanta found an equaliser just under 20 minutes in. Duvan Zapata dribbled down the right wing, unleashing a shot which smashed back off the post. Timothy Castagne arrived just in time to tap the ball into the net. The most striking thing about this goal from a Roma perspective was the positioning of Federico Fazio. 'Il Comandante' was caught too high up the pitch, and didn't have the sufficient pace to get back. Consequently, he couldn't keep up with Castagne as he jogged into the box. Yes, there was a hint of misfortune with the way the ball rebounded straight into Castagne's path, but Fazio could've done more to prevent him receiving the ball. Goal three: Rigoni (1-2) If the first Atalanta goal was bad, the second was even worse. Kostas Manolas stumbled over the ball with his back to goal in a right-back position, allowing Zapata to run at goal. Manolas was able to keep within touching distance of him as he sprinted back, but a clever chop from Zapata opened up new space and took Manolas out of the game. Fazio then failed to intercept Zapata's ball across, leading to a simple one-on-one finish for Emiliano Rigoni. Goal four: Rigoni (1-3) Roma's centre back partnership of Manolas and Fazio were put under the spotlight again for Atalanta's third goal. Fazio came out of position to try and dispossess Rigoni - which he wouldn't have had to do if one of the midfielders had stopped the simple ball into Rigoni's path. Daniele De Rossi in particular was too high up the pitch as he went to close down a defender, a job which could have - and should have - been done by Pastore. Rigoni quickly flicked the ball round Fazio as the Argentinian rushed on, carrying on his run so that Mario Pasalic could play him in. Manolas couldn't block the pass, leaving Rigoni one-one-one again. The midfielder pulled off a lethal finish, despite Florenzi's best efforts to recover ground, beating Robin Olsen at his near post to make it 3-1 at half time. Goal five: Florenzi (2-3) After being involved in the build up for Roma's first goal, Florenzi got on the scoresheet himself on the hour mark. The right-back clipped the ball forward to Edin Dzeko, who chested the ball down and held it up as Florenzi followed his pass. As Dzeko turned, Florenzi took the ball off him and dribbled towards goal. Space opened up for him as Atalanta's defence backed off, with the centre-back distracted by Pastore's movement towards the right. Florenzi then sidefooted the ball down the middle of the goal and under the keeper's body to set up a comeback. Goal six: Manolas (3-3) Now an expert in sealing late comebacks, Manolas scored the equaliser in the 82nd minute. Pastore's free kick was played at just the right height to catch out the Atalanta defence, sailing over Zapata's head as the striker attempted to clear it, with Manolas running to the far post. The timing of Manolas' run allowed him to meet the ball for a simple tap in. He managed to set his feet right so that he could cushion the ball into the goal with the inside of his foot, securing redemption for Roma. Final thoughts The goals conceded by Roma highlight clear areas for improvement in the defensive phase. The Giallorossi cannot afford to make such defensive mistakes against clinical opponents like Atalanta, and that requires hard work all over the pitch. However, at the other end, Pastore has importantly got off the mark in a Roma shirt, and two of the club's longest serving players ensured Roma earned a point. It's always satisfying when the team's most passionate players score, and they will be hoping to have opportunities to add to their tallies over the next few months. Highlights courtesy of Serie A YouTube
The transfer window in Italy may be closed, but that doesn't mean players in Serie A will necessarily be staying with their clubs this season.
The market is still open in France, Spain and Germany, and due to this, it looks as if Roma will be selling another of their famous names before the summer is out. Kevin Strootman has been left out of the matchday squad for tonight's encounter with Atalanta, as the Dutch midfielder nears a move to Marseille. Roma's midfield has undergone a complete transformation this summer, with the departures of Radja Nainggolan, Maxime Gonalons and Gerson - who have been replaced by Javier Pastore, Ante Coric, Bryan Cristante, Nicolo Zaniolo and Steven Nzonzi - and now Strootman is set to leave the club after five years. Here is how Roma fans on Twitter have reacted to the news.
Roma play their first home game of the new season tomorrow night, as Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta visit.
Eusebio Di Francesco will be looking to continue his side's winning start to the season, which began with a 1-0 victory over Torino last week. That day, Edin Dzeko scored a late winner, and the striker will be looking to get on the scoresheet again. One player who could be lining up against his former club is Bryan Cristante, who joined Roma from Atalanta in the summer. The midfielder came on from the bench against Torino, but is still awaiting his first start in Serie A for Roma. Di Francesco certainly has plenty of options given the work over the summer, and with no players out injured, it could be a full strength squad. In their opening game, Atalanta beat new boys Frosinone 4-0, with influential captain Alejandro 'Papu' Gomez scoring a brace. Roma will certainly be aware of the Argentinian's ability, along with other dangerous players such as Duvan Zapata and Maarten De Roon. Atalanta also boast a couple of ex-Roma players: Rafael Toloi and Marco Tumminello. Atalanta were also in action on Thursday night, when they hosted FC Copenhagen in the Europa League play off round. They were held to a 0-0 draw by their Danish opponents. Roma will be hoping to exploit any fatigue in the Atalanta legs from the additional fixture. Under Gasperini, Atalanta have become accustomed to top ten finishes, and have caused problems for so-called bigger teams. Last season, they beat Roma at Stadio Olimpico, while Roma won the away match on the opening day. It isn't the easiest start to the Giallorossi's home campaign, so a top performance will be required. A win could see Roma enter the top four already, so the team will be hoping they can do the business and send a strong message at the start of the season. This season, Giallorossi Yorkshire will be going in depth to analyse every goal scored in a Roma match. Articles will consider who, if anyone, was at fault for the goals Roma conceded, and who deserves praise for their roles in those scored at the right end. First up, it's a recap of the solitary strike in Roma's 1-0 win over Torino in the opening game. Edin Dzeko scored in the 89th minute to give Roma one win out of one. It was a spectacular goal, typical of a player who has earned many points for Roma during his time with the club. The move started and finished with the Bosnian striker. Dzeko rose to flick on Robin Olsen's long goal kick, with the ball falling to Justin Kluivert. Substitute Kluivert went on a dangerous run, always looking for the space. Heading towards the right wing, Kluivert beat a couple of defenders with his pace and trickery before finding the space to move the ball on. Beating his marker with a stepover, he was then able to play in a lofty cross which picked out Dzeko, who was coming in at the backpost. Watching the ball all the way, Dzeko connected with the inside of his left foot. He did not snatch at the chance or overpower it, but instead caressed the ball in a controlled manner. Volleying it back across the keeper, he expertly picked out the far corner to give Roma a late lead. It's the kind of goal that we've become used to seeing from Dzeko, who can be as good with his left foot as he is with his stronger right foot. It wasn't as majestic as the wonder volley he scored with the same foot against Chelsea last season, but a shot from this angle required a different kind of technique. He needed to use the inside of the foot to get it on target. Power was an added bonus, but it was the direction of the shot that took paramount importance. Dzeko's volley had an expected goals (xG) rating of 0.03. That means, on paper, he had just a three per cent chance of scoring from that position. But as we know by now, Dzeko is capable of scoring goals that few others can. One important aspect of the goal was his movement in the box. He delayed his run and adapted his footwork so that he could be free at the far post, allowing him the space to have a go at goal rather than having to play it back into the middle. Watching the ball all the way, he jockeyed backwards once he was in the box so that he could be in the best position to find his balance and shoot. He had found the space to allow him to swing his leg up for a volley, and what followed was brilliant. It was a fine way for the talisman to start the season, and it surely won't be the last time he scores a great goal this year. Video from Serie A YouTube
Five-a-Side Friday takes a break from regular action this week, so let's take a look back at past teams to reveal the best players only to have been chosen once.
Every Friday on Giallorossi Yorkshire, a Roma fan picks their dream all-time five-a-side team, and whilst legends such as Francesco Totti, Cafu and Gabriel Batistuta have often been selected, some big names have only been picked once. Here's a lineup made of the best one pick wonders. GK: Franco Tancredi Goalkeeper for Roma's 1982-83 Scudetto triumph, Tancredi is one of the most decorated players in Roma history, having played a part in five of the club's 16 honours. However, he has only made one Five-a-Side Friday lineup, chosen by Franco Ficetola. DF: Juan In his prime, Juan was a rock at the heart of the Roma defence. He played for Roma in a five-year spell, contributing to one Coppa Italia win and a Supercoppa the previous year. However, he only featured in Dec Campbell's lineup. MF: Attilio Ferraris Another player chosen only by Franco Ficetola, Ferraris was one of Roma's early greats. A World Cup winner, Ferraris played for the club from their 1927 formation until 1934, making just shy of 200 league appearances. FW: Mohamed Salah Salah was excellent in his two years with Roma, so it's perhaps a surprise that he has only made it into one selection - Anton Petrov Gaydarov's. He is one of the best players to have played for the club in recent years, and although he didn't stick around long, he still made a big enough impact. FW: Vincenzo Montella One of Roma's best ever strikers, Montella lit up Serie A in a decade-long spell with Roma. However, with a wealth of options up front, he has found it hard to make it into Five-a-Side Friday lineups. Only John Rovere has picked the Italian forward.
Roma's season began with a 1-0 win over Torino yesterday, as Edin Dzeko scored a magnificent volley late on to send Roma home with three points.
Torino had a goal disallowed by VAR for offside earlier in the match. Robin Olsen and Javier Pastore made their first starts for Roma, while Justin Kluivert and Bryan Cristante came on from the bench for their club debuts. Here is how Twitter reacted during and after the game.
The 2018-19 season begins today for Roma, as they face Torino in a tough first test.
Eusebio Di Francesco will be hoping his new look side can improve on last season's performance of 3rd place in Serie A, and he will know the importance of hitting the ground running today. The game kicks off at 5pm UK time, and will be available to watch online through subscription-based platform Eleven Sports. Robin Olsen, Javier Pastore and Bryan Cristante are among the new recruits that could make their competitive debuts for Roma, with Justin Kluivert also a possibility. However, Steven Nzonzi won't be playing a part in the game, as he continues to build up his fitness after arriving at the club later than the rest of the summer signings. Diego Perotti also misses out with an ankle injury. Last season, Roma did the league double over Torino without conceding a goal. Aleksandar Kolarov scored a free kick in the 1-0 away win, while the Giallorossi won 3-0 in the home fixture. However, Torino dumped Roma out of the Coppa Italia in the Round of 16 in December. Walter Mazzarri's side brought in Roberto Soriano and Simone Zaza on deadline day, adding to their strong squad. Keeping hold of star striker Andrea Belotti has also been an important move. They will be hoping to consolidate on last year's 9th-place finish. It's a big opportunity for Roma to make a statement against a capable opponent. Can they start the season in a positive manner? The Serie A season is just around the corner, and the anticipation levels are high.
There are so many talking points. Can anyone stop Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo? Will Inter's team of new signings challenge for the Scudetto? Can Carlo Ancelotti work wonders with Napoli? And of course, will Roma battle for a fourth Serie A title? This season we're going to have a bit of fun on Giallorossi Yorkshire, by playing fantasy football. I've set up a Giallorossi Yorkshire league on www.fantasyseriea.com, where you can make your Serie A Fantasy Football team for the 2018-19 season. The league is free to enter and will run across the whole season. Who will come out on top? To join the league, please direct message me on Twitter (@SamBanno1), and I'll give you the league code. Which Roma fan will be victorious? |
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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