GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
With the January transfer window now open, it's a good time to reflect on the current state of the squad, and how the newer members of the squad have done so far.
Many Roma fans were excited for the arrival of new sporting director Monchi in the summer, and whilst everyone is aware that this will be a long-term project, the additions he made in his first transfer window with the club have had varying levels of success. Here's a grade for the performances of each of the players Monchi brought in in the summer so far. Hector Moreno: C- A player that Monchi has admired for some time, Mexican defender Moreno hasn't seen much action at all. With Kostas Manolas, Federico Fazio and Juan Jesus ahead of him in the pecking order, the 29-year-old has been limited to just six appearances in all competitions. It's somewhat strange that we haven't seen him at left back, given the amount of football Aleksandar Kolarov has had to play, and the claims when he joined the club that he could also play that position. Rick Karsdorp: N/A Sadly for Karsdorp, and for the many fans who believed he would solve the club's issues at right back, injury has been cruel to the Dutchman. Signed with a knee problem, he missed the start of the season, and on his first appearance back, he ruptured the ACL of his other knee, sending him to the sidelines again. Lorenzo Pellegrini: B Returning to the club he grew up at, Pellegrini came back to Roma from Sassuolo at the end of June. So far, the young Italian has looked to be a good acquisition for the future. He has creativity on the ball and work rate off it, and scored against his former club at the weekend for his second goal of the season. He is definitely making a good start to his Roma career, and can go on to become a cornerstone of this midfield. Maxime Gonalons: C- One of the players who was expected to fight for a starting place, Gonalons has been largely underwhelming. Signed with great experience at Lyon, he played very well against Chelsea away, but on other occasions has made too many errors. He will be hoping to improve over the second half of the season. Cengiz Under: C Cengiz Under has a bright future, but has understandably been limited to a handful of appearances so far. He looks good on the ball, but is currently lacking a goal. With a bit more experience and confidence, that will come. Gregoire Defrel: D Defrel has found it difficult to adapt to a different role on the right, ultimately failing to produce any quality of note. Perhaps unlucky not to have been given a chance in his natural centre forward position, he is another forward without a goal to his name. Aleksandar Kolarov: A Undoubtedly the best signing made by Monchi in the summer. At €5m, Kolarov has been a real bargain, and his performances at left back have been pivotal to the success of the team. He has taken the headlines for his ability with the dead ball, scoring two free kicks, and has also been exceptional in open play. The Serbian has been a revelation for Roma. Patrik Schick: B- Signed in a deal that will become a club record, Patrik Schick has had to wait for his opportunity to impress at his new club due to injury. Now fully fit, he has been utilised as either a right winger or a striker. He scored his first goal for the club in the Coppa Italia loss to Torino in December. He's certainly promising, and, with gears still to go through as he continues his return to the pitch, should be aiming for at least ten goals this season. Overall: C Many of the players brought in over the summer are long-term solutions, from whom too much shouldn't be expected too soon. The younger additions are in general making the right first steps in their Roma careers, whilst the form of some of the more experienced arrivals has been mixed. Collectively, all these players have allowed Eusebio Di Francesco to rotate for different competitions, which has been pivotal to the team's success in the Champions League. However, recent weeks have indicated that the squad isn't yet complete, which may prompt Monchi to act in the January window.
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When news initially broke of Roma making contacts with Leicester over a possible move for Riyad Mahrez, and that the price could be somewhere in the region of just 30 million euros, it seemed like a no-brainer to close the deal. However, as time has progressed, it has become clear that the Foxes are holding out for a much larger sum of money than what was first thought – a fee that would be much too large.
At the right price, Mahrez would have been a fantastic addition for Roma. With Mohamed Salah having departed for the Premier League in June, the club needed a right winger of similar qualities: a left-footed player with pace and skill, able to cut inside and create goals for his team. Mahrez – who was named PFA Player of the Year in Leicester’s title-winning 2015/16 season – is indeed a player of this mould. The Algerian international is a player of the high quality needed to properly replace Salah’s input to the team, not just to get by without him – and that is important for any genuine Roma attempt at winning a trophy this season. With some rumours that Mahrez has agreed a deal in principle with the Giallorossi, the move seemed to be making even more sense. It was reported that Mahrez wants Champions League football, and was willing to take a pay cut in order to push through the transfer. However, Leicester don’t appear to be as keen on letting their star player go so cheaply. Recent reports indicate that 30 million is a long way from Leicester’s valuation of the player, which is closer to 50 million. So, is it really worth spending that much on him? The answer is no. Whilst the other names suggested as targets for Roma in that position so far have not been quite of Mahrez’s level, there is enough capability in this current squad to thrive without actually adding anyone. Two of Roma’s summer signings, Gregoire Defrel and Cengiz Under, are comfortable playing on the right wing. Defrel was believed to have been signed as back up to Edin Dzeko, but having played out wide more often in training, he was selected on the right wing in last night’s International Champions Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur. Having worked under Eusebio Di Francesco at Sassuolo, he already understands the coach’s demands, and will adapt to the same system at Roma with relative ease. The money Roma would save from not signing Mahrez could then be used to buy another striker to compete with Dzeko, now that Defrel would be used as a winger instead – or the club could simply trust Sadiq Umar, who has got on the scoresheet twice in pre-season. Meanwhile, Under appears to be something of a hot prospect. A natural winger, the Turkish international could be a handful for Serie A defences this season, as they are less likely to know about his game. The youngster impressed at Istanbul Basaksehir last season, and looks eager to carry that forward into the upcoming year as well. Coming on as a substitute against Spurs, Under scored on his Roma debut, an accomplishment that will have his name in the minds of fans in the near future, in anticipation of what he can achieve with this team. In his first interview with the club, he declared, “My aim is to earn myself a regular starting berth as quickly as possible.” It is clear then, in Under’s mind at least, that he has the potential become a starter on the right wing for Roma this year. And lest we forget, there is another member of this squad more than capable of making the right wing position his own. Though currently sidelined, Alessandro Florenzi could excel in a more advanced position, which is where he is expected to be used under his new head coach. Florenzi will take time to return to top form after two ligament injuries last season, and being right-footed may have to adapt to Di Francesco's tactic of wingers cutting inside, but he remains the long-term future of this team. He is Roman through and through, a player who gives his all for the club when on the pitch – and it is only right that the club should return that, and put their faith in him when he is not on it. Florenzi, almost certainly a future Roma captain, must not be forgotten, or frozen out of the team before he can return. Roma shouldn't spend 50 million euros on a transfer that could damage one of their most popular player's chances of regaining a spot in the starting eleven. A place must be reserved for him until he is ready to come back at his very best, and that place may well be on the right wing. And until that day, Defrel and Under are more than capable of stepping up to the plate and delivering the goods for the red and yellow of Rome. Some time soon, the 'S' in AS Roma may no longer stand for Sportiva, but for Sassuolo.
Multiple Neroverdi players are being linked with Roma this summer, not least because their current manager, Eusebio Di Francesco, is expected to take over at the Olimpico. Recent reports suggested the deal to bring their former player EDF back to Roma had hit a stumbling block, as Sassuolo are demanding his release clause is met in full. This has led to other names from further afield being linked to the job, such as Unai Emery of PSG, ex-France boss Laurent Blanc, and Thomas Tuchel, who recently left Borussia Dortmund. If Di Francesco does return to Roma as a manager, it is likely that some Sassuolo players will follow him. Whoever takes charge though, we could still expect to see these current Sassuolo players at Roma next season: Lorenzo Pellegrini Former Roma Primavera captain Pellegrini was sold to Sassuolo two seasons ago, with Roma maintaining a buyback clause on the midfielder. Sassuolo's director general Giovanni Carnevali confirmed in May that Roma will exercise that clause, having wanted to do so in January. Pellegrini will then either stay and develop at his hometown club, or be sold on for a bigger fee. It was reported that AC Milan were interested in him, but since they signed Franck Kessie from Atalanta last week, they may not feel the need to move for another midfielder. Consequently, and with Roma sporting director Monchi a fan of Pellegrini, we may see Lorenzo playing for Roma in 2017/18. Domenico Berardi Italian U21 forward Berardi is an Inter Milan supporter, and the San Siro club have apparently expressed an interest in him. Despite this, it is reported (by Sportitalia, last week) that he would be willing to come to Roma if his current manager does so too, with the prospect of Champions League football also a strong selling point. EDF has apparently earmarked him as an ideal replacement for Mohamed Salah, who is being linked with Liverpool, as he is a left footed player playing on the right wing. At the age of only 22, he is already his club's all-time leading scorer. Matteo Politano Another former Roma youth player, Politano has been at Sassuolo since 2015. Like Berardi, he is a left-footed right winger. Politano recorded five goals and six assists in Serie A this season, and when quizzed recently on whether he would like to follow EDF to Roma by Rai Sport, he said, "Who wouldn't want that?" Francesco Acerbi Giallorossi Yorkshire linked centre back Acerbi to Roma on 24th May, after he announced he would be leaving the club in the summer. Following those links, the Italian defender was indeed linked with Roma in the press. With the future of Antonio Rudiger unclear, Acerbi may be an ideal signing for Roma - and Roma would be a good club for him, as he looks to play at another level. Gregoire Defrel Roma's January transfer window went by reasonably quietly, with Clement Grenier the sole addition. One name that was frequently linked with Roma during that month was French forward Defrel. The 25-year-old has spent his whole career in Italy, and can play as a central striker or on either wing. Football Italia reported last month that a deal to bring Defrel to Rome may still be on, with Monchi interested in the striker. This season, Edin Dzeko was Roma's sole centre forward, so the club may be looking to quickly add cover in this department, despite Dzeko's outstanding season. It should also be noted that winger Federico Ricci spent the season on loan at Sassuolo from Roma, so if Di Francesco does take over in Rome, it will be interesting to see whether he has ideas for the 23-year-old. He made just 13 starts in all competitions in 2016/17. It is suggested that Di Francesco may already be shaping Roma's transfer window, as he has apparently told the club to keep Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti, two players who other clubs have shown interest in, but he is apparently keen on working with, according to the Corriere Dello Sport. |
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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