GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
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.
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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. Claudio Ranieri's return to the Roma dugout got off to a winning start after goals from Stephan El Shaarawy and Patrik Schick gave them a 2-1 victory over Empoli on Monday night.
The win - their first in the month of March - sees them keep the pressure on the top four, with just three points separating them from Inter in the race for Champions League qualification. Roma were down to the bones for the game, with several high-profile absences through injury and suspension. Nonetheless, they gritted their teeth and held strong to see out the three points. It wasn't all that pretty, but it was never going to be with so many players unavailable. Here, Giallorossi Yorkshire analyses which three players stood out most, and the three that struggled in the game. Stars Stephan El Shaarawy Opening the scoring with a superb strike from outside the box, El Shaarawy was a positive outlet for his side. His confidence seems to be growing week upon week, and a symbolic moment came when he was handed the captain's armband for the first time following Alessandro Florenzi's red card. It symbolised the senior position that El Shaarawy has now assumed, and he led by example, trying to manage the game by keeping hold of the ball for as long as possible. He also adapted well when he moved to a more central striking position, allowing him to link up well with the energetic Patrik Schick. Steven Nzonzi The French midfielder hasn't always shown what he's capable of this season, but he definitely found a rhythm against Empoli. He made several interceptions to disrupt opposition attacks and was confident in possession. Nzonzi was the controlling force Roma needed at the core of the action. Justin Kluivert The winger was a bright spark and always made himself an option with his positive thinking and forward runs. His pace caused countless problems for the ageing Empoli defence, and helped Roma get on the front foot. It should also be noted that he won the free kick that led to the winning goal. He will be hoping to kick on now for the final few games of the season. Strugglers Bryan Cristante Whilst his midfield partner Nzonzi impressed, Cristante was often sloppy in possession, giving the ball away when Roma could have created chances. The Italian played at an almost leisurely pace and also picked up a yellow card. It was far from his finest outing. Juan Jesus With Kostas Manolas injured and Federico Fazio serving a one-match ban, Jesus had to step up in defence, but it didn't go as well as planned, as the Brazilian spectacularly headed into his own net in the 12th minute. Alessandro Florenzi He may have got the assist for the winning goal, but more often than not, Florenzi's crosses were imprecise and failed to beat the first man. It's been a tough week for the full-back, who capped it off by getting sent off - albeit due to a harsh decision from the referee. Overall thoughts Roma stopped the rot by getting back to winning ways, and that's all that matters. Players will return over the next few weeks to supplement the starting lineup and add cover and quality where it is needed. The result is a step in the right direction that allows Roma to look forward rather than behind them. This is a platform to build on. 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. Antonio Mirante will be handed a rare start in goal for Roma against Chievo on Friday evening with regular keeper Robin Olsen ruled out with injury.
Mirante, a summer signing from Bologna, will be selected instead of Daniel Fuzato due to his superior experience. The veteran Italian has only come back from an injury recently, but will occupy the goals in the clash which puts Roma up against the bottom side in the league. Chievo are nine points from safety having only won one game all season, although they did take points from Roma in their meeting at Stadio Olimpico earlier in the season, which ended as a 2-2 draw. Eusebio Di Francesco will see this game as a chance to correct the mistakes from the reverse fixture and also build on the draw with Milan last weekend. Also missing from the game will be Kostas Manolas, who has picked up a slight knock. Ivan Marcano is likely to come into the side to replace him at centre-half. Meanwhile, Lorenzo Pellegrini is ruled out with suspension, but Steven Nzonzi and Bryan Cristante return from their one-match bans. Di Francesco confirmed at his press conference that Nicolo Zaniolo will start in midfield again, but insisted the youngster has even more scope for improvement despite his impressive displays recently. The coach said: "Zaniolo will start tomorrow as well. He's looking fresh, mentally and physically. He still needs to improve - there are times when he could be even more decisive - but he's still very young." The game kicks off at 7:30pm UK time and will be shown live on Premier Sports 1. Roma ensured they headed into the international break on a high with an emphatic 4-1 win over Sampdoria.
The result meant Roma won at home in Serie A for the first time since September, and lifts the Giallorossi up to sixth place in the table. Stephan El Shaarawy scored a brace to extend his lead as Roma's top scorer in domestic action this season, increasing his tally to five goals - three more than any other player. Here's how all the goals went in. Goal one: Juan Jesus (1-0) Roma's opening goal came in the first half from an unlikely source in Juan Jesus, who showed some attacking intent in his serious effort to finish the move off. Roma won a corner on the right-hand side, which Lorenzo Pellegrini took. The Italian midfielder's delivery has really improved this season, with his newfound set piece ability meaning he has recorded five assists in all competitions - already the same amount as he did in the entirety of last season. It was Bryan Cristante who reacted most effectively to Pellegrini's cross, rising above the defenders and aiming his header towards the far post. As the ball sailed past on-loan Juventus goalkeeper Emil Audero, Jesus raced to the ball to snatch the goal for himself, tapping it in to become Roma's 13th different scorer this season. Goal two: Patrik Schick (2-0) It's been a difficult first year-and-a-bit in Rome for Patrik Schick, but the Czech forward relished his rare opportunity to start as a centre-forward, marking the occasion with a goal against his previous club in the second half. Roma worked the move down the left wing, with Steven Nzonzi feeding it to Pellegrini, who quickly turned the ball round the corner to El Shaarawy. The winger was direct in his approach and started to drift inside before showing great awareness to spot the overlap of Aleksandar Kolarov. The left-back played the ball across the face of goal with pace and Schick showed the desire to get there first, sidefooting it across Audero for 2-0. Like Jesus, it was Schick's first goal of the season, meaning 14 players have now found the back of the net for Roma this term. Goal three: Stephan El Shaarawy (3-0) Kolarov was a key part of the next goal too, picking up the ball just inside the Sampdoria half and beating three opponents with a pass through to El Shaarawy. The 26-year-old controlled it well with a positive first touch, before Audero did enough to put him off. However, as the ball drifted out to the left-hand side of the box, El Shaarawy regained possession, cutting back onto his stronger right foot and noticing Audero off his line. The winger pulled off an exquisite curled chip, with the ball sailing over Audero's fingertips and into the far corner of the goal. It was a great demonstration El Shaarawy's attacking intent and ability to achieve the spectacular. Goal four: Gregoire Defrel (3-1) With Schick scoring against his former employers for Roma, it seemed almost inevitable that ex-forward Gregoire Defrel would come back to haunt the Giallorossi. Fortunately for Roma, the in-form French striker's goal was a mere consolation, rather than a game-changer that would have been a bitter pill to swallow. Nonetheless, the ease with which he made a chance and scored will have brought some distress to Eusebio Di Francesco. As a cross came in from Jacopo Sala on the right wing, with no defender trying to block it, Kostas Manolas mistimed his attempt at heading the ball away. It dropped into Defrel, and the striker executed a clever one-touch turn to bypass Alessandro Florenzi and leave him with just Robin Olsen to beat. Defrel quickly pulled the trigger before Olsen could tighten the angle, ensuring he marked his return to the Olimpico with a goal. Goal four: Stephan El Shaarawy (4-1) Roma sealed the victory with another impressive goal that highlighted their ability to create chances from tight areas. Edin Dzeko headed on Florenzi's throw in, with Cengiz Under bringing it under control. With two bodies marking him, Under fantastically backheeled the ball back to Dzeko on his right shoulder, giving the striker space to run into. As he reached the edge of the penalty area, Dzeko weighted a through ball into the path of El Shaarawy. Despite Audero getting a fingertip to it, he couldn't intercept the pass, and El Shaarawy touched it inside to leave himself with an easy sidefoot finish. It rounded out a comprehensive win that sees Roma get back on track with their first league win in four games. They remain unbeaten from three matches in November. Roma will be looking for their first home league win in over a month when they face Sampdoria on Sunday afternoon.
Roma haven’t won a Serie A game at Stadio Olimpico since beating Lazio at the end of September, and need to pick up all the points they can get if they are to revive their ambitions for the season. They head into the Sampdoria fixture - their last game before the international break - off the back of a 2–1 win over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, but they have drawn their last two Serie A games 1-1. Sampdoria have also hit a rough patch of late, losing 4-1 to Torino last week. They are winless in over a month, and have slipped to 12th in the table despite a promising start, which included a 3-0 win over title challengers Napoli. The top scorer for Marco Giampaolo’s side this season is a certain Gregoire Defrel, the French striker who was a massive disappointment at Roma last season. It would add insult to injury if the 27-year-old was to score a decisive goal against his parent club today. The other ex-Roma attacker in their ranks, Gianluca Caprari, has weighed in with two goals from seven league games, while Fabio Quagliarella remains a danger man even at the age of 35. Midfield creators Dennis Praet and Gaston Ramirez could cause problems for Roma, while Joachim Andersen has been everpresent at the back. The Danish defender renewed his contract at Sampdoria in the week, despite interest from Inter, Juventus and Manchester United. For Roma, ex-Sampdoria man Patrik Schick will start the game, although Eusebio Di Francesco refused to confirm whether he would do so on the wing or up front. Justin Kluivert has a chance of retaining his place in the starting lineup, while Juan Jesus could be restored at centre-back. Daniele De Rossi, Diego Perotti and Javier Pastore miss the game through injury, however. The game gets underway at 2pm UK time. Expected Roma lineup: One week after missing out on three points due to a stoppage time equaliser, Roma this time benefitted from a late goal as they came back to draw 1-1 with Fiorentina. The Stadio Artemio Franchi has been a difficult place for visitors this season, and Roma found out why in a frustrating match of football. Edin Dzeko wasted a couple of chances, while Nicolo Zaniolo, a surprise inclusion in the starting lineup, wasn't afraid to try his luck, but couldn't get his first Serie A goal. Fiorentina had plenty of chances themselves, but only three of their 14 shots were on target. They had a golden opportunity in the second half when Federico Chiesa broke in behind the Giallorossi defence, but Giovanni Simeone couldn't latch onto his pass for what would have been a tap in. It took a late equaliser for Roma to snatch a point, meaning it's two consecutive 1-1 draws for the Giallorossi. Goal one: Jordan Veretout (0-1) Roma fell behind in the first half after a controversial penalty decision. Cengiz Under tried to play the ball back to Robin Olsen, but Fiorentina forward Giovanni Simeone latched onto the pass. As Olsen came out to thwart him, Simeone went down after the faintest contact. Replays showed it was actually Simeone who kicked Olsen in the head, rather than the foul being the other way, but VAR failed to overturn the decision. Once the decision had been made, it was up to Olsen to try and stop Jordan Veretout's penalty, but there wasn't much he could so as the French midfielder sent it flying into the top corner. Whilst the officials made a clear mistake in awarding the penalty, the situation could have been averted without Under's sloppy pass. It was a risk to play the ball back to the goalkeeper from his position, especially given the lack of pace in Roma's defence. Simeone had ghosted between Federico Fazio and Juan Jesus, who should also have dealt with the situation better, and was ready to pounce before the spot kick was given. Goal two: Alessandro Florenzi (1-1) Captain for the day in the absence of Daniele De Rossi, Florenzi dug his team out of a hole with a late equaliser. The ball went wide to Aleksandar Kolarov, who got the ball out of his feet and played a deep cross into the box. Goalkeeper Alban Lafont parried the ball away, with Florenzi swinging at the ball with his left foot. It bounced into the ground before crossing the line to make it 1-1. Florenzi shot with instinct, not overthinking the action. While the connection wasn't clean, his urgency to get the ball in the net made it a difficult situation for the Fiorentina defenders to deal with. Even though Lafont was stranded, Florenzi still had a sea of defenders to shoot through, but he didn't worry about pinpoint precision. He found his space, knew he had to shoot quickly, and found the bottom corner to ensure Roma avoided a defeat. Highlights from Serie A YouTube
Roma resisted some second half pressure from Empoli to secure another win and clean sheet on Saturday night, wrapping up a 2-0 victory.
It takes Roma into the international break having secured four wins from their last four games, form which has propelled them into the top three of Serie A. The side seem to have rediscovered their mojo after an indifferent start to the campaign, although some alarm bells still rang in this game, as Empoli gave it a good go. However, there were still some great individual performances across the park. Here's how each player performed. Robin Olsen - 7.5 It was a fairly comfortable evening for Olsen in the Roma goal. Even though Empoli managed more shots than Roma, only four of them went on target. However, Olsen was always alert and decisive, spotting the danger and protecting his goal well. Davide Santon - 7 Restored to the starting lineup after sitting out the Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen, Santon did well throughout the game. He showed strength and positional awareness, and his versatility came in useful when he shifted over to left-back upon Luca Pellegrini’s exit from the field of play. Kostas Manolas - 6.5 Empoli did manage to break in behind sometimes, but they were often caught offside, testament to the defensive line that Manolas had organised. With most of the action coming towards Roma’s left, he wasn’t always at the heart of the defensive action, but he was a binding force for the backline as a whole. Federico Fazio - 6 It was a decent performance from Fazio, although he sometimes struggled to keep up with runners in behind. Occasionally he lost the ball too easily, but most of the time he did well enough in and out of possession. Luca Pellegrini - 6 It was a mixed full debut for Luca Pellegrini, who looked good on the ball going forward. However, he was sometimes caught out defensively, leading to a careless booking after getting caught wrong side of his marker. Nonetheless, it was a good outing for the 19-year-old, and definitely gives the side something to build on. Steven Nzonzi - 7.5 After getting back up to pace in terms of match fitness, Nzonzi has found his rhythm and sharpness, and it came to the fore as he capped off a great performance with his first goal for the club. He helped control the flow of the game in midfield, particularly in the first half, and is showing why Monchi wanted to bring him to the club so eagerly. Daniele De Rossi - 8 Even at the age of 35, De Rossi dictated the midfield battle. He played like a man much younger than himself, playing good passes, recovering ground well when losing possession and making key challenges. He was the glue that bound the team together. Cengiz Under - 7 A bright spark going forward, Under showed his willingness to be positive as he looked to be an effective attacking outlet. He took on some quick shots and also was involved in some good passages of play. It was a hard-working performance, even if he could be capable of more. Lorenzo Pellegrini - 6 Pellegrini is continuing to look more comfortable in a more advanced role, but just lacked a little something on the night. He showed he has pace and energy when given the freedom to roam forward, and he can be clinical with his decision-making, but he didn’t always show it during this game. Stephan El Shaarawy - 6 El Shaarawy seemed to struggle to grow into the rhythm of the game. It wasn’t a poor performance but it certainly wasn’t his best, characteristic of the inconsistency which has plagued him in the last couple of seasons. He was good when dribbling, but needs to be more incisive in the final third on a regular basis. Edin Dzeko - 8 Calm and composed, Dzeko led from the front. He showed his experience and leadership in the second half when Empoli were growing into the game, helping to take the sting out of the game with his clever rotation of possession. He got the goal his performance deserved, showing his typical confidence in front of goal no matter how many players were marking him. Subs: Alessandro Florenzi - 6.5 Replacing Luca Pellegrini, Florenzi added solidity at right-back and put in a couple of inviting crosses, although the attackers didn’t always meet them. Bryan Cristante - 5 He didn’t get long to grow into the game, but Cristante struggled to impose himself on it properly. Juan Jesus - 5 Brought on so that Eusebio Di Francesco could change the system, Jesus added cover on the left side of defence, which is where Empoli were getting their joy. After he came on, that seemed to stop, although that wasn't necessarily all down to Jesus. Coach: Eusebio Di Francesco - 7 In terms of team selection, he got the balance right, including the decisions to bring Santon and De Rossi back in. He recognised the right time to bring Luca Pellegrini off, and also noticed the danger Empoli were posing, when he adapted to a back three. All in all, his decisions were shrewd and helped Roma to the win. |
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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