GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Roma's top four hopes suffered a setback yesterday with a 1-1 draw away at Genoa, leaving Claudio Ranieri's side three points behind with three games left.
It was a tight game, but Roma thought they had found the winner when Stephan El Shaarawy powered the ball home in the 82nd minute. However, a stoppage time equaliser from Cristian Romero meant it was a case of two points dropped for the Giallorossi. The result was nothing other than what Genoa deserved, having caused several problems for Roma's defence. In the end, their poor finishing - including Antonio Sanabria's missed penalty in stoppage time - spared Roma from defeat. If Krzysztof Piatek had still been at the club, then one has to wonder if it could have been a whole lot worse for Roma. Nonetheless, the top four race isn't over, and the performance wasn't as bad as some have made it out to be. Whilst it was definitely one of the lower points of Ranieri's brief tenure, there were some positive signs from individuals, that will give Roma hope of getting six points from their last three matches. It may not be enough to secure Champions League football, but in reality, fifth place would be an achievement given where the side was at Christmas. As the fallout continues from the game, here are the Giallorossi Yorkshire player ratings. Antonio Mirante - 6.5 It was probably Mirante's worst game since he usurped Robin Olsen as first choice. However, he still made some important saves throughout the game that Olsen probably wouldn't have managed. Mirante's positioning for Romero's goal should be called into question, as he didn't fully commit to punching the ball clear or staying on his goalline. Then, he gave away the penalty that could have handed Genoa all three points, but he made amends with a comfortable save from Sanabria's spot kick. Alessandro Florenzi - 7.5 Defensively, Florenzi still leaves something to be desired. He struggles to deal with crosses over his head, and it was a tactic Genoa could have utlised more to threaten Roma further. Offensively, however, it was Florenzi's best game in a while. He put in a number of inviting crosses - a quality that is often missing from his game - and got forward into some good positions. He was replaced late on after pulling up with a muscle injury. Kostas Manolas - 6 Manolas' underwhelming season continued as he found it difficult to deal with the pace of Christian Kouame. Genoa found no problems in getting at the Roma backline, and it was Manolas who was the weak link, with his reading of the play not the best. It wasn't a terrible performance, and thankfully none of his errors led to goals, but he is struggling to live up to his reputation at the minute. Federico Fazio - 7 Alongside Manolas, Fazio continued his upturn in form with a better display. 'Il Comandante' made a few important blocks, including one from a Kouame shot late on. He looks more confident than Manolas at present, and it will be critically important for Roma's season that he continues the way he is in the final three matches. Aleksandar Kolarov - 6.5 On the night, it was Kolarov's opposite full-back Florenzi who was delivering the majority of the better deliveries, which went against the usual plot. As for the Serbian, he didn't dominate his side of play like he sometimes can. He did occasionally indulge himself with his trademark chop, but he stopped short of breaking into the box like he sometimes does, ultimately making things easier for Genoa. Defensively, he struggled to keep pace, which is maybe why he was playing with more caution than usual. Bryan Cristante - 5.5 For a midfielder, Cristante's passing accuracy leaves something to be desired. Even when his passes did go to their intended target, he often put his teammates under pressure by playing the ball to them when they were being marked. There were a couple of better moments for him, when he tried switching the play, but his struggles in helping the team keep possession needs closer inspection from the coaching staff. Steven Nzonzi - 6.5 It was another better performance for Nzonzi, but he didn't quite grab the game by the scruff of the neck as he should be doing - or as the absent Daniele De Rossi would be. In his defence, he won several headers and made some good challenges. He's playing at a good level at the moment, but needs to make one more step up to reach the great levels which brought him to Roma in the first place. All in all though, not bad. Nicolo Zaniolo - 6 Once again, Zaniolo was a marked man, and it affected his output. Whilst he is more than capable of holding his own in a physical battle - just ask Domenico Criscito, who was outmuscled by him, fairly or otherwise, a couple of times - the very fact that he is being forced to get involved in them is affecting his ability to do what he does best. With his space and freedom restricted, he can't get the ball out of his feet and create things. There was one moment shortly before he was substituted, when he managed to break away inside and fire a shot in with his left foot, but his former Inter youth teammate Ionut Radu tipped it over. Lorenzo Pellegrini - 5 Perhaps one way that Zaniolo can rediscover his best is by being restored to a central position, and judging by Pellegrini's recent performances, he may get his opportunity soon. It's not through a lack of effort, but Pellegrini is not meeting the standards he reached earlier in the campaign. He found his time on the ball limited, and he was ultimately frustrated, being the first man to be withdrawn. Stephan El Shaarawy - 7.5 How many times is he going to be Roma's saviour? The winger got his 11th goal of the season with a cushioned left-footed volley, making it seem like he had inspired the side to victory again. He wanted to keep the celebration muted against his former club, but after a goal like that, he couldn't help himself break out into a little smile. He deserves all the plaudits he's getting, and is becoming more and more pivotal to Roma's potential success week by week. Edin Dzeko - 6 Technically got the assist for El Shaarawy's goal, nodding on Justin Kluivert's cross, but could have contributed more. Statistically, he had more shots than any other Roma player, but none of them really stick out in the mind, with just one of them being on target. He needs to get involved more, with better movement, if he wants to give himself a better chance of reaching double figures of league goals, needing two more from his last three games. Substitutes: Patrik Schick - 4 The first man to come on, Schick didn't do much with his 25 minutes on the pitch. He switched off and lost his man for the goal Genoa scored. Justin Kluivert - 4 Kluivert got 20 minutes on his 20th birthday, and he did get a card for the occasion - it was one of the yellow variety, given by the referee. Other than that, his major contribution was the cross that led to the goal. Rick Karsdorp - N/A Came on as a late replacement for Florenzi, making a return to action after not playing for a month due to injury. Coach: Claudio Ranieri - 5 Ranieri set Roma up a 4-2-3-1 formation which has become the norm in recent weeks. His decision to take Kluivert out of the starting lineup was not vindicated, as Zaniolo had a hard time of it out wide. Bringing the Dutchman on, as well as Schick, should have had an effect, but nothing much changed. Ranieri is trying his best for his team, but his faith in some players is perhaps not being repaid. Nonetheless, Roma would have lost this game earlier in the season. The minor improvement in mentality has coincided with Ranieri's tenure, and he will be making sure the players aren't resting on their laurels for the three games he has left with them.
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Stephan El Shaarawy will be hoping to fire Roma to victory against the club he started his career at, as the Lupi take on Genoa on Sunday evening.
El Shaarawy is enjoying his most productive season with Roma to date, and made it 10 goals for the campaign with his strike in the 1-1 draw with Inter a fortnight ago. Tonight sees the winger return to where it all began. It’s more than 10 years since El Shaarawy made his debut at the age of 16 in Genoa’s away match against Chievo. Since then, his career has taken him several places, but he has finally settled at Roma. So far, he has only scored once against Genoa in a Giallorossi shirt, but having established himself as Roma’s main goal threat this term, the onus will be on him to help inspire the win. In Roma’s most recent game though, a 3-0 win over Cagliari, the goals came from more unlikely sources. Aleksandar Kolarov and Federico Fazio both extended their impressive scoring records for defenders - with Kolarov leading the way among Europe’s top five leagues - and Javier Pastore netted on his first league start of the year. Tonight, Roma won’t mind where the goals come from, as long as they find a way to win. Genoa are hovering six points above the relegation zone, so will be motivated to pull away and secure their Serie A status for next season. The hosts have struggled in recent weeks though, failing to win any of their last six games. Nonetheless, their last win was against champions Juventus, so Roma should know they can’t afford to underestimate their opponents. Roma’s squad is getting nearer to full strength, with only Daniele De Rossi, Davide Santon and Diego Perotti missing from the 21 men called up. The game starts at 5pm UK time and will be shown live on Premier Sports 1. Roma made it four games unbeaten on Saturday with a 1-1 draw away at Inter, a result that does no harm to their chances of catching the top four.
With AC Milan drawing to Parma earlier in the day, it was a major chance for Roma to finally rise into the leading quartet in Serie A again, and while they didn't get the win they needed to do so, it was far from a negative performance. Consequently, the Giallorossi remain just one point off fourth place. Roma's defenders stood out more than their attackers, with Inter dominating the ball. Claudio Ranieri's side showed resilience and solidity, making a big effort to keep their hosts at bay having taken the lead through Stephan El Shaarawy's tenth goal of the season. Ultimately, Inter did peg Roma back, but a point at San Siro is never easy. Here's how Giallorossi Yorkshire rated the players. Antonio Mirante - 6.5 It was a mixed afternoon for Mirante, who was starting his fourth game in a row. In the eighth minute, he pulled off a save of the season contender, somehow clutching the ball off the goalline to deny Lautaro Martinez's powerful header. However, later in the half, he fumbled at a long-range shot from Matteo Politano, in a moment which had the Roma faithful panicking. All in all though, Mirante is continuing to justify his selection ahead of Robin Olsen. Alessandro Florenzi - 5.5 Florenzi had quite the task on his hands, forced to nullify the double threat of Kwadwo Asamoah and Ivan Perisic down Inter's left-hand side. Roma's captain for the day went about his job with varying degrees of success. Sometimes he made a good block or challenge, but more often, he was bypassed by the direct nature of the Inter duo. Crosses over the top were a constant source of chances for Inter, and eventually it paid off, with Florenzi being caught out at the backpost for Perisic's goal. Federico Fazio - 7.5 He's starting to look like 'Il Comandante' again. Fazio has been steadily improving since the arrival of Ranieri, and on Saturday night, he continued his upturn in form. In the absence of Kostas Manolas, Fazio was the leader in the backline, showing heart and passion to protect Mirante's goal. When Mirante spilled Politano's shot as half-time approached, it was Fazio who was racing across the six-yard box to put in a challenge, preventing a follow-up shot from Matias Vecino. Juan Jesus - 8 Fazio's centre-back partner impressed in even greater measures. In the build-up to the game, the conversation revolved around the potential impact that Nicolo Zaniolo could have against his former club. But it was another ex-Inter employee, Juan Jesus, who was the real hero for Roma. Called into the starting lineup late, when Manolas was injured in the warm up, Jesus was focused from the off, winning several key challenges. He kept his attention levels high right until the end, putting in a big tackle to deny substitute Mauro Icardi late on. Aleksandar Kolarov - 7.5 The consistently inconsistent Kolarov had one of his better games, certainly in an attacking sense. He gave Roma their first real opportunity of the game, with a powerful left-footed effort from outside the box that flew just wide of Samir Handanovic's post. The full-back was visibly angry with himself that he hadn't hit the target, but what he had done was give Roma the impetus to start the game well. In the dying minutes, he nearly won Roma a penalty, somehow getting a shot away as he was pushed over by Keita Balde. Had he been a little less honest and gone to ground, VAR might just have been tempted to intervene. Steven Nzonzi - 6 Not one of his most noticeable performances. The midfielder won three aerial duels and made two tackles, as he played his part in nullifying former Giallorossi man Radja Nainggolan. However, he wasn't a major part in any of Roma's attacks, as the game seemed to pass him by a little. Bryan Cristante - 6.5 Cristante can also become a passenger figure on the pitch, but against Inter he was more heavily involved than usual. He played a big part in breaking up play to stop Inter counter attacks, trying to incite offensive moments of Roma's own. His passing was more accurate than usual, but he needs to start making more decisive contributions in the final third. Cengiz Under - 5 Handed his first start since January, the winger was brought off at half-time after a rather uninspiring 45 minutes. Cengiz tried to get in behind the Inter defence, but Asamoah defended well against him. Ultimately, he was reduced to a couple of snatched-at crosses, never really causing any danger. After a couple of months out, it will be a case of gradually getting back up to speed, but it looks like Under is a good few weeks away from his best. Lorenzo Pellegrini - 5.5 He had the right ideas, but the execution was a little off. Playing in the number 10 role, Pellegrini tried to create with through balls in behind, but they tended to be overhit. He had a disappointing left-footed shot near the start of the second half, sending it wide of the nearpost when he should have shown more composure. He could have no complaints about being brought off as Ranieri looked for more dynamism. Stephan El Shaarawy - 7 This season has been El Shaarawy's most consistent to date, and he capped it off with another wonder goal to bring up a landmark. His effort to break the deadlock showed intelligence and precision, as he beat the obstacles of Danilo D'Ambrosio and Vecino to get himself into a shooting position. His connection was clean, giving Handanovic no chance. It's the first time he's reached double figures for a season in a Roma shirt, and he fully deserves it. He didn't have too many opportunities beyond that, but the goal was good enough to make up for it. Edin Dzeko - 7 The assist for El Shaarawy's goal came from Dzeko, who was slightly better than he usually has been this term. His hold up play was creditable, and his ability in the air shone through again. He only managed one shot on target, though, and should have done better with an opportunity on his left side early in the game. Subs: Nicolo Zaniolo - 5 Replacing Under at half-time, Zaniolo's freedom was restricted as he had to help cover Florenzi on the right-hand side. When he moved into a more central position following Pellegrini's withdrawal, it was too late for him to have an affect on the game. He went on to pick up a yellow card, which will rule him out of Roma's next game. The immature challenges are something he needs to quickly learn from and remove from his game. Justin Kluivert - N/A Only got 10 minutes to make an impact, and did try to get at Asamoah. Given Cengiz's disappointing showing and Zaniolo's suspension, he may get a chance to start against Cagliari next week. Coach: Claudio Ranieri - 6 A point away at Inter is not an easy accomplishment, but Ranieri was able to guide Roma to it. The Giallorossi's improvements in the defensive phase continued to shine through, all testament to Ranieri's work. With several players unavailable again, most of Ranieri's decisions made themselves. But he is continuing to get on with the job without complaints. As summer approaches, we should be getting closer to finding out who Roma's next head coach will be - however, there still doesn't appear to be an easy front runner.
Maurizio Sarri has reportedly been identified as the top target, but if he can guide Chelsea to a top four finish in the Premier League, or victory in the Europa League, then it could be hard to prise him away from London. Atalanta's Gian Piero Gasperini and Sampdoria's Marco Giampaolo are other prime candidates, but doubts remain over their ability to manage top clubs. And, unless a Qatari takeover does happen, Antonio Conte is surely out of Roma's price range. Perhaps there is one man who deserves to be in the mix, who hasn't been suggested yet. A man who is closer to Roma than all the others - current interim boss Claudio Ranieri. Ranieri is now halfway through his expected 12-game tenure, and he has completely transformed Roma's season. He took over a side deprived of confidence, having been embarrassed in the Derby Della Capitale and Champions League. It looked doubtful that Roma could even qualify for the Europa League, let alone finish in the top four. Now, after six games at the helm, Ranieri has guided Roma to fifth place, just one point off the target which seemed impossible just a few weeks ago. He has done so whilst juggling a number of injuries and suspensions to key players. But now, that final goal is within touching distance. Let that sink in. Everybody knew that Ranieri, in the short term, would bring his immense passion for the club and his demands of high commitment from the squad. His enthusiasm for the role has been evident in abundance. The way he says "noi tifosi" (us fans) in his interviews makes the fans feel connected with him. Ranieri is, and always has been, completely in love with this club. He is reminding the squad what it means to play for Roma, making sure they know not to take their place for granted. That mentality has made Roma competitive again. The other main hope when the 67-year-old arrived would be that he would bring defensive stability to the team. It seemed a mountainous task, with Roma having conceded more goals than most of the other teams in the top half. But, somehow, Ranieri has changed things. Thanks to a bold decision in replacing Robin Olsen with Antonio Mirante in goal, and the minor rebirth of Federico Fazio, Roma have now kept two consecutive clean sheets for only the third time this season. Under Ranieri, Roma now look hard to beat again. Earlier in the season, they allowed teams to roll over them, cutting through the backline with ease. Now, that's not happening anywhere near as often. The Giallorossi have a structure, and their spine is solid. Admittedly, it hasn't been perfect, with the loss to SPAL a blip and the heavy defeat to Napoli a major disappointment. But since the latter, Roma have negotiated three tricky fixtures, and have emerged on the other side unbeaten. Ranieri has transmitted to them a resilience that is meaning they are working harder than at any other time this season. Look at the way they bounced back twice to draw with Fiorentina. They showed huge determination to restore parity so quickly both times. He may not be the headline name that some fans want to see as permanent manager next season, but why doesn't he deserve a chance? If he does guide Roma to Champions League qualification, he will have performed nothing short of a miracle. That would surely be enough to at least put him in contention - especially when many of the other names touted are unrealistic. If Roma appointed a manager from elsewhere, it would hit them financially. Sarri, Gasperini and Giampaolo are all currently employed by other clubs and compensation fees would need to be paid, whereas Conte's wage demands would put a major strain on the club. In contrast, Ranieri is already at Roma. Giving him another season in charge would be a much better scenario in terms of cost. One of the more unusual outcomes that has been suggested is for Daniele De Rossi to retire and immediately take over as coach. It's clear that coaching is in De Rossi's blood, and that is where is future will lie, but isn't it too soon to throw him straight into the cauldron? If he does decide to retire this season, then he could become Ranieri's assistant instead. It would be a great combination on the touchline - two men of different generations, both embodying what it means to love Roma. Ranieri could be the tutor that De Rossi needs to give him the grounding in preparation for his future as a head coach. Obviously, at his age, Ranieri would be a short-term solution, but with there being no guarantees over many of the targeted names, he represents the option with least risk. He has been the father figure that Roma have needed to get them out of a difficult patch, and now the players are returning to form under him. Roma shouldn't be afraid to let that continue for one more year, until someone younger and more realistic does become available. Until then, Ranieri deserves to be in with a shout. Want more Roma features on your timeline? Like the new Giallorossi Yorkshire Facebook page! Roma's disastrous 2018-19 campaign continued with an embarrassing 4-1 loss to Napoli on Sunday afternoon, in which the Giallorossi were played off their own park at Stadio Olimpico.
After Napoli took an early lead through a powerful close-range Arkadiusz Milik effort, the game only looked like going one way, and Roma's worst fears were confirmed. Despite Diego Perotti's penalty giving Claudio Ranieri's side a lifeline on the stroke of half-time, Napoli were able to exploit the shaky Roma backline in the second half, with Dries Mertens, Simone Verdi and Amin Younes rounding out the win for Carlo Ancelotti's men. There will no doubt be repercussions for several members of this squad at the end of the season, as their misery was compounded. This was not an isolated negative performance, but just another in a long list of showings that just haven't been good enough in 2018-19. Here are the major talking points from the game. Experienced players let Roma down Napoli's quick attacking play cut through Roma's defence like a knife through butter, with each member of the back four culpable of mistakes. The man often seen as Roma's only beacon of hope at the back, Kostas Manolas, didn't cover himself in glory in the first half by picking up a needless yellow card for tugging on an opponent's shirt in the buildup to a disallowed Napoli goal. Manolas' booking means the centre-back will now be suspended for Roma's clash with Fiorentina, further adding to the side's difficulties at the moment. It was a moment of immaturity from a player who, at 27 years of age and with over 200 Roma appearances to his name, should know a lot better. Likewise, Aleksandar Kolarov's booking came from a similar situation. He didn't need to pull his opponent's shirt, as Federico Fazio was covering. Kolarov is another player who is meant to be a senior member of the squad, but he certainly didn't show it, and it nearly led to a goal from a free kick. These players are supposed to be examples, but they are playing like youngsters at the minute. Back to Manolas, and it's not the first time he has made a formerly-uncharacteristic mistake this season, and it begs the question: how long will he still be considered an unsellable player? He has long been heralded as untouchable, too important to Roma's defence to let go. But this year he has not lived up to his usual standards, and if Roma need to raise money in the summer, then maybe it's time for his five-year spell at the club to come to an end. It's easy to blame Juan Jesus or Fazio, but their expectations are lower, and Manolas has been equally as poor at times this term. Maybe his importance to Roma has been overstated and it's time to move on. Dzeko should have been replaced earlier It feels a touch harsh to overly criticise Claudio Ranieri, given the squad he inherited and the fact that he is only managing the club on an interim basis. However, he should have taken Edin Dzeko off at half-time. The striker was clearly limping, and wasn't contributing much anyway, so it would have been better to put on a player who could move more freely. Instead, Dzeko played through the pain, and it wasn't to the side's benefit. Ranieri's decision to take Patrik Schick off just after the hour mark was a poor one - Schick had won Roma's penalty thanks to his movement and could have offered more in a central role. Dzeko should have departed instead, and he put himself at risk of aggravating an injury by staying on. Players lack the passion to put 100% in Napoli were clearly a level above Roma, but that shouldn't have stopped the Giallorossi putting an effort in. Too many times, the Roma players were found jogging, with no sense of urgency to defend. This wasn't just when the game was out of reach, but when the scoreline was still at 1-0 in the first half. Napoli's third goal came from a counter attack from Roma's corner, and the way some of Ranieri's men jogged back was inexcusable. It was almost like they had consigned themselves to the fact that they were going to concede, and just gave up. In fairness, Fazio did make a decent effort to get back - it's not his fault he lacks pace, and he tried his best to keep up. But his centre-back partner Manolas, the one who does have some speed, was nowhere to be seen. If Roma are to get out of the current mess they are in, they need the players to put maximum effort in. There is no room for jogging. These players shouldn't have been tired - they've had time off in the international break. It makes you question just how much they want to be here. Any positives to take? Realistically, no player rated above a five out of 10. But, as stated, Fazio's effort was commendable. He also put in a big block to deny Younes, which stood out. Yes, he has made many errors this season, but at least his effort is there. The same can't be said for many of this team. Likewise, not everything came off for his compatriot Diego Perotti, but the winger tried to make things happen. He stepped up when the side needed a cool head to level things up with the penalty, and as usual made no mistake from the spot. He remains a divisive figure among the fanbase, but he is trying to be a leader. The quality is lacking from the entire team at present, so the ones who are putting an effort in are the ones who deserve praise. Like them or not, on Sunday that was Fazio and Perotti more than anyone else. The Monchi excuse is getting tired To anyone with objectivity, it was clear from the summer that Monchi's work in the transfer window had not been good enough. The sporting director spent far too much money on far too many average players, and failed to replace the experience he removed with the sales of Radja Nainggolan and Kevin Strootman. With Roma suffering under Eusebio Di Francesco and now Ranieri, the coaches have been absolved of some blame. It's only gone to prove that Monchi is the one who should be held accountable, and that his work in the summer was an absolute horror show. However, as horrendous as the job Monchi did was, it's getting too easy to just blame him. Some of the players need to take a long, hard look at themselves. They should question their attitude, desire and performance levels. Only a few will be spared this summer if Roma drop further down the table. It's up to them to ensure that doesn't happen. Yes, the simple answer is sometimes the most accurate. The simplest answer for this crisis is that Monchi left the club in a wreck with a series of terrible decisions. But now that he's gone, Roma need to emerge from his shadow. To do so, the players, staff and ownership need to take some responsibility themselves. With the condition as critical as it is, there can be no more room for basic excuses. Everyone at the club is in this together, and now is the time to step forward. By just blaming someone who isn't at the club any more, it makes it sound like it doesn't matter to those who still are. Europa League qualification now in danger With nine games left, Roma find themselves three places adrift of their target - a top four finish. If the league was to finish today, they would miss out even on Europa League football next season. With two tricky matches coming up this week, against Fiorentina and Sampdoria (the latter of which could see the opponents leapfrog Roma and push them even further away from the European spots), it's going to be a make-or-break period. Roma cannot afford to lose both matches, or they may be out of the European equation altogether. After last season's success in the Champions League, that's not acceptable. However, it's starting to look alarmingly possible. It's set to be a busy transfer window in the summer, as Roma could be forced into a rebuilding project to help rectify the mess that departed sporting director Monchi has left the club in.
It would be reasonable to expect a vast array of departures and arrivals - a strategy that has not always worked for the club in the past, but feels necessary as things stand. With Champions League qualification looking like a diminishing prospect, Roma's summer activity could be restricted. The man in charge of transfers this summer - whether that is Ricky Massara or someone else - will have some big decisions to make in order to transform Roma back into a strong, competitive unit. Among those decisions will be those related to players who will have just a year left on their contracts. Do they deserve to be offered an extension, or should the club cash in while they can? Here are those 11 players, and what Roma should do with them. Juan Jesus For the past three years, Juan Jesus has been a relatively dependable back-up option in defence. He may not be the strongest, or have the best reading of the game, but he can offer a solution when needed. However, despite his bit-part role in the squad, he remains one of the club's highest earners. As much as he has been a decent alternative at the back, it's unrealistic for a non-starter to be on his kind of wages. With that in mind, Roma should look to sell him in the summer. Roma should be able to recoup the €10m they spent on him in 2016, which can be reinvested into more economical options. Federico Fazio Federico Fazio joined Roma in the same summer as Jesus, and has had mixed fortunes in the capital. His first season, in which he played in a back-three under Luciano Spalletti, was immense, earning him the nickname of 'Il Comandante'. In his second season, he was still a starter, but his performance levels dropped slightly as new coach Eusebio Di Francesco favoured a back four. This season has been his worst in Rome yet, but it may still be worth keeping hold of him. At his age, he probably has little-to-no resale value, so Roma should utilise his experience and let him see out his contract. Yes, he is another high earner, but is slightly better than Jesus, so he could be retained for stability. However, he cannot be the starter any more. A new defender must be signed to take his place in the lineup. Aleksandar Kolarov Another player whose time with Roma has been a mixed bag, the renewal of Aleksandar Kolarov depends very much on his fitness and performance levels. At 33 years old, he's not in the best shape of his career, although you can't fault his effort. With that in mind, a similar scenario to Fazio could ensue - let him stay at the club for the final year of his contract, but give the starting left-back role to a younger player (Luca Pellegrini, perhaps?) and use Kolarov as an experienced back-up. Stephan El Shaarawy There can be no doubts about this one. With the way he has performed this season, it's essential that Roma offer Stephan El Shaarawy a new contract. The winger is enjoying his most prolific season in years, finally shedding the inconsistency which meant he had never been a definite starter in the past. Now, he can be a cornerstone of the new Roma project, and having surpassed 100 appearances for the club, it's time for him to be given even more responsibility in the group. Edin Dzeko This could be the toughest call of the summer. There's no denying that Edin Dzeko has been one of Roma's best value-f0r-money purchases of (perhaps) all-time. Signed for €15m in 2015, the Bosnian has gone on to score 85 goals for the club, propelling him into the Giallorossi's top ten all time goalscorers. That means each of Dzeko's goals has cost the club just over €175,000. To put that in perspective, iconic Scudetto-winner Gabriel Batistuta scored at a rate which meant each of his goals cost Roma over €1m. Thus, Dzeko's efficiency is clear to see. However, this season hasn't been his best, and if Roma need to raise funds, he will be one of the players looked at first in terms of having a decent value. Is Patrik Schick ready to step up and be the first-choice striker instead? He's shown promise recently, but perhaps needs to score five goals before the end of the season to convince the club they could let Dzeko go. Likewise though, if Dzeko can rediscover his scoring touch, he could also deserve a one-year extension. It would be a difficult decision to part ways with Dzeko, but if the money is needed, maybe it'd be the right one. That being said, with Inter Milan hovering, it's important not to sell to a rival club where he could have an impact. There will be enough interest in the Premier League if Roma do decide to sell. Andrea Romagnoli Moving on to the players who are currently out on loan whose Roma deals expire in 2020, goalkeeper Andrea Romagnoli hasn't enjoyed the best season. His loan spell to Serie A side Renate was cancelled in January without him making an appearance, and following a switch to Pistoiese, he is still yet to play. It's probably best for Roma to let him go this summer. Elio Capradossi Elio Capradossi's future hinges on the composition of Roma's defence by the end of the summer. The Italy youth international made two appearances for the first team last season after being recalled from a loan, and did reasonably well. If Roma are in need of depth at centre-back but have limited funds, he could be brought back as a fourth-choice for the position. He's played 11 times for Spezia in Serie B this season, although he hasn't featured since January. But if Roma need the cover, Capradossi won't cost them anything. Maybe he's worth keeping hold of, at least until the winter transfer window. Alessandro Bordin A 20-year-old Primavera player who has seen little gametime with Perugia in Serie B this season, it's probably best for Alessandro Bordin to be moved on this summer. Daniele Verde It seems like an eternity since Daniele Verde burst onto the scene in Rudi Garcia's Roma side of the 2014-15 season, and with that in mind, it's surely time for him to find a permanent new home. Various loan spells have brought decent levels of success, but not quite enough for him to warrant a place in the first team squad back at Roma. He's scored two goals in 18 La Liga games for Real Valladolid this season, and with the Spanish club retaining an option-to-buy, he could well settle there. Ezequiel Ponce Like Verde, Ezequiel Ponce seems to have been on Roma's books forever, but is still without a first team appearance. Nonetheless, he has shown plenty of promise this season, scoring 14 goals in 23 games for AEK Athens in Greece. It's the first time he's really shown his ability in front of goal, and if Roma need a back-up striker in the event of Dzeko leaving, then why not give Ponce a chance to replicate that form in Italy? Umar Sadiq Yes, he's still owned by Roma. The striker who impressed at 18 years of age with two goals in the 2015-16 season has since been loaned out to everywhere from Italy through Holland and Scotland, and back to Italy again. None of those spells have really cemented the potential he showed in a handful of appearances under Garcia, and the summer could finally see him sold. With two goals in eight games for Perugia this season, perhaps the Serie B side would be interested in signing him permanently. Claudio Ranieri will once again have a depleted squad at his disposal as Roma travel to face SPAL on Saturday evening.
Roma got through Ranieri's first game in charge since his return without influential figures such as Edin Dzeko, Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas, and in tonight's trip to Ferrara, several big players will be absent again. Aleksandar Kolarov missed the win over Empoli through suspension, but he hasn't returned to the matchday squad for the SPAL clash. With Davide Santon a minor doubt as well, Juan Jesus or Ivan Marcano could be forced to fill in at left-back, with the other pairing the returning Federico Fazio in the centre of defence. Lorenzo Pellegrini also remains among the absentees, while Alessandro Florenzi is suspended after picking up a red card against Empoli. However, there is some good news, as Dzeko has returned to the squad. Therefore, it's likely that we will see him play alongside Patrik Schick in the first proper taste of Ranieri's 4-4-2 system. For SPAL, the main danger man will no doubt be former Atalanta striker Andrea Petagna, who has scored 10 goals in 25 Serie A games this season. A forward with physical presence, Roma's defence will need to be wary of his threat. The game kicks off at 5pm UK time, and will be shown on Free Sports, with coverage starting from 5:15pm. It's the first game of Claudio Ranieri's second spell in charge of Roma tonight, as the Giallorossi entertain relegation-threatened Empoli.
Ranieri will be hoping to inspire the team to their first win of March, after disappointing performances in the Derby Della Capitale and Champions League saw Eusebio Di Francesco lose his job. Whilst the level of the opponent gives Roma a good chance to put those wrongs behind them, a number of absences are causing complications to their preparation for the clash. As many as seven first team players are absent, with Edin Dzeko, Federico Fazio and Aleksandar Kolarov suspended, and Daniele De Rossi, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Cengiz Under and Javier Pastore injured. Five Primavera players have been called up as reinforcements, including Alessio Riccardi, who made his senior debut in the Coppa Italia win over Virtus Entella earlier this year, and Zan Celar, who is top scorer for the U19s this term. Due to all the absentees, there won't actually be many major decisions for Ranieri to make. However, the coach must choose whether or not to drop goalkeeper Robin Olsen for Antonio Mirante, after the Swede's recent struggles. As for the opponents, Empoli have only won one game in 2019, and are yet to win on the road all season. The stats, then, certainly favour Roma, but let's see how they cope without the influence of so many key players. Claudio Ranieri is all set to begin his second spell as Roma coach, with his debut in the dugout coming tomorrow against Empoli.
Ranieri was appointed on Friday to take over from Eusebio Di Francesco, signing a contract until the end of the season. The bad patch of form which led to Di Francesco's sacking has seen the chances of the side reaching the top four diminish. However, with Ranieri's positive outlook, there is hope that the team can turn things around and achieve their target. Here are five things the new coach will have to solve in a short space of time if that is to occur. Sort out the defence It's an unenviable task that's easier said than done. Roma have already conceded more goals in Serie A this season than they did in the entirety of last season, and there's still 12 games to go. However, perhaps it isn't a lost cause. Whilst Federico Fazio has been poor this season, he did stand out for the right reasons in his first two seasons with the club, so maybe with some small tweaks - a deeper line, for example - he could rediscover his form to become a reliable partner for Kostas Manolas again. Likewise, Juan Jesus and Ivan Marcano - who are set to start together against Empoli - have played better in the past with Roma and former clubs, so maybe they can improve. If Ranieri can bring some stability to the defence and just make Roma hard to beat again, then it will be a good platform to build from. Get Edin Dzeko firing again Another experienced player who has been slightly off-colour this season has been Edin Dzeko. The striker is still yet to score at home in the league and has netted just seven Serie A goals this term. Somewhat surprisingly, none of those goals have come against fellow members of the 'big six' - Juventus, Napoli, Lazio and the two Milan teams. Dzeko has lost his mojo as a big-game player, but is the kind of forward that just needs one thing to fall his way before a scoring run starts. Ranieri has already hinted that he will play Dzeko alongside fellow striker Patrik Schick, which could help him receive more chances - it nearly worked in Di Francesco's last game, against Porto, as Dzeko got more involved after Schick came on. Play Zaniolo in a central position Nicolo Zaniolo has been the breakout star of the season, but his recent performances from the right wing have left a little to be desired. Whilst patience is needed with the youngster, it's clear that most of his best displays so far have come when he has played more centrally. In the 4-4-2 that Ranieri is expected to use, Zaniolo has enough energy to feature in the central midfield pair, or he could even play as a false nine, with a licence to drop into the attacking midfield role. Either way, playing centrally gives him more freedom to have an impact on games, and should get the very best out of a very good player. Make a bold decision with the goalkeepers Robin Olsen has come in for some stick recently, and Ranieri now faces a tough decision. Does he keep Olsen as his number one, or give the starting berth to Antonio Mirante? The latter has done reasonably well in his four appearances this season, keeping two clean sheets. From the initial pictures of Ranieri meeting the players, it seemed like he got on instantly well with Mirante. The coach needs to make a strong decision over which keeper to prioritise. That player could well still be Olsen, but a clear focus is needed from the off. Restore Alessandro Florenzi's confidence Alessandro Florenzi looked completely downtrodden after giving away the penalty that led to Porto's winning goal on Wednesday. The vice-captain needed to be consoled by teammates Daniele De Rossi and Lorenzo Pellegrini, as well as opposition veteran Iker Casillas. True, Florenzi has been poor for some time now, in comparison to his old standards, but he might be able to rediscover the passion and determination to win that made him a good player in the first place. If anyone can benefit from Ranieri's insistence on positivity and starting with a clean slate, it could easily be Florenzi. It's the opportunity he needs to leave previous mistakes behind him, knuckle down and rediscover his best form. Final thoughts Ranieri has a short space of time to work with this team, and even if he does well, who knows if his stay will be extended beyond the current season? That doesn't seem to faze the 67-year-old, who is determined to get Roma back where they belong in the short-term. As a supporter of the club, he will want to see positive changes as much as the fans at the stadium. And with a bit of unity, he might be able to steer Roma back in the right direction. It's a make-or-break game for Roma's season tonight, as they look to defend their slender first leg lead over Porto in the Champions League Round of 16.
Roma won the home leg 2-1, but their form since then has been far from convincing, with narrow wins over strugglers Bologna and Frosinone followed by an embarrassing defeat to Lazio. So much so, that several reports suggest that if Roma lose tonight, Eusebio Di Francesco will be relieved of his duties as head coach. However, EDF's Roma have been known to step it up for the European nights, so they will be hoping to build on their first leg advantage to reach the quarter-finals for the second season running. Changes are expected from the team that lost to Lazio, with Antonio Mirante potentially replacing Robin Olsen in goal and centre-back duo Federico Fazio and Juan Jesus expected to be dropped for fit-again Kostas Manolas and ex-Porto man Ivan Marcano. Further upfield, winger Diego Perotti could make just his second start of the calendar year. Roma haven't won an away game in the Champions League knockout stages since beating Real Madrid in 2008, so fate may be against the Giallorossi. However, the form of key players such as Nicolo Zaniolo - who is expected to be fit despite limping off against Lazio - and Lorenzo Pellegrini gives some cause for optimism. The game kicks off at 8pm UK time and will be shown live on BT Sport 3. |
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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