GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Part three of Giallorossi Yorkshire's season review highlights the 10 best goals Roma scored in 2018-19 - and gives you the chance to have your say in the end of season awards for the first time ever. A shortlist of goals has been selected, with readers able to vote for their favourite in the poll at the bottom. The winner will be revealed as part of the annual Giallorossi Yorkshire end-of-season awards, at the conclusion of this year's season review. So sit back and enjoy looking back at these 10 great goals that lit up an otherwise underwhelming campaign. Edin Dzeko v Torino (19/8/18) In the end, it was one of Dzeko's least productive goalscoring seasons, but it certainly started on the right note. The Bosnian ensured Roma started the season with a win by volleying in - with his weaker left foot - late on against Torino. Javier Pastore v Atalanta (27/8/18) Another player whose season did not match the standards it initially promised, Pastore opened his Roma account two minutes into his home debut with an intelligent backheel against Atalanta. Cengiz Under v Frosinone (26/9/18) The prior season had seen Cengiz develop a reputation for scoring long-range spectaculars, and his first goal of the new campaign saw him pick up from where he left off - a strike made even better by the way he effortlessly dribbled past opponents beforehand. Lorenzo Pellegrini v Lazio (29/9/18) This was actually Pellegrini's first ever Derby Della Capitale appearance, and the boyhood Roma fan made his mark on the game by scoring with a cheeky backheel after getting beyond opposing keeper Thomas Strakosha. Edin Dzeko v CSKA Moscow (23/10/18) In their third match of the Champions League group stage, Roma opened the scoring with an incredible team move. Every outfield player touched the ball in a 29-pass move, which finished with a great combination between Pellegrini and Dzeko. Cengiz Under v CSKA Moscow (23/10/18) Later in the same game, Cengiz wrapped up the win with a well-executed half volley that went right into the top corner. It may have been from closer range than usual, but still required incredible ball control. Stephan El Shaarawy v Sampdoria (11/11/18) El Shaarawy's goals were key for Roma all season, as he scored 11 times - and this was one of his best. Going away from goal, he turned back inside and chipped the ball into the far corner, barely having to look at his target. Nicolo Zaniolo v Sassuolo (26/12/18) It was the day when Zaniolo really announced himself to the world, grabbing his first ever senior goal in quite some fashion. The teenager cut inside from the right, before making the defender sit down and lifting the ball over keeper Andrea Consigli. Nicolo Zaniolo v Torino (19/1/19) Zaniolo carried on the positive momentum in the first league game after the winter break, showing determination and improvisation to open the scoring against Torino. Stephan El Shaarawy v Inter (20/4/19) As someone who made his name at AC Milan, El Shaarawy will have loved scoring against Inter - especially with a goal this good. The winger dribbled forward at pace before picking his moment and sending the ball flying beyond Samir Handanovic. NOW VOTE! Having re-watched all 10 goals, now it's time to pick your favourite. Simply choose your preferred option in the form below.
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Giallorossi Yorkshire's end of season review gets underway with a look at five areas that could have changed how things went for Roma in the past campaign.
2018-19 was one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory for the Lupi, as they missed out on Champions League qualification for the first time in six years. But could things have turned out differently? What if Antonio Mirante had been first choice all year? One of the worst decisions made by Monchi in the summer was to sell Alisson and replace him with the unproven Robin Olsen. The gamble didn't pay off, as the Swede showed he was not up to the standard required to be Roma's number one. Claudio Ranieri recognised this when he came in as interim manager, and after Olsen had conceded four goals against Napoli, the coach made back-up keeper Mirante his first choice. Immediately, it was the right decision. Mirante gave much more confidence to his backline - perhaps a factor in Federico Fazio's improvement during Ranieri's tenure as well - and pulled off some impressive saves to ensure Roma got better results. There's no doubting that Olsen cost Roma some points, whereas Mirante helped his side to gain them. What if Eusebio Di Francesco had noticed the problem before, and Mirante had been between the sticks all season? What if Di Francesco had been sacked earlier? The decision to make Mirante the first choice keeper was not the only one where Ranieri showed himself to be more prudent than his predecessor. Di Francesco deserved a chance to carry on with Roma after the previous season's miraculous Champions League run, but - not helped by the fact that Monchi signed players that didn't fit into his preferred system - the former Sassuolo boss showed naivety throughout the season. The best time to dismiss Di Francesco would have been straight after the 7-1 loss to Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia. Such a result was unacceptable, and it made his position untenable. Yes, Ranieri was still in employment at Fulham at the time, so maybe it would have been another, less successful interim manager, but nonetheless, it was clear to everyone that a change was needed - at least, everyone other than Monchi, the man with the power. What if Nicolo Zaniolo hadn't been played out of position? One of the brighter notes of Roma's season was the emergence of teenager Nicolo Zaniolo, who was shown faith from the start, with Di Francesco giving him his debut against then-Champions League titlists Real Madrid before he had even made a Serie A appearance. The summer signing held his own in the midfield three, thriving in a central area. However, partly enforced due to injuries, Zaniolo was moved out to the right wing midway through the season. His attacking output and ability to cut in onto his left foot suggested he would be a competent option for the role, but if anything, it worked to his detriment. Often, the former Inter academy player found himself isolated from games, or crowded out with a lack of space. By the end of the season, his confidence was gone, and he looked a shadow of the player that had announced himself to the world earlier in the season. Maybe if he had been kept in a central role, he would have maintained his high standards right to the end. What if Monchi had made a January signing? As mentioned above, the only person who didn't seem to realise that everything was going wrong was the club's chief decision maker, Monchi. Going into the January transfer window, it was obvious that he needed to sign reinforcements. Roma were in sixth place, and had conceded more goals than even 15th-placed Udinese. However, Monchi stated that the solutions to Roma's problems were to be found within the present squad. In some ways, he may have been right. Fazio and Steven Nzonzi particularly improved when Ranieri came in, but it was obviously not enough. More depth was needed, especially in the full-back areas and attack. That could have helped avoid the problem listed in the point above regarding Zaniolo. If a winger had been signed to cover for the injured Cengiz Under, then maybe Roma could have made a more sustained challenge to break into the top four. What if Daniele De Rossi had been fit all year? Another of Roma's better players throughout the season, despite all the factors against him, was Daniele De Rossi. Matches changed when the captain was involved, as he encouraged those around him to raise their games via his own quality and leadership. He may have only scored one league goal all season, but his presence on the pitch was enough to influence results. Sadly, he spent much of the campaign on the sidelines with injury. If he had been available more, then Roma would surely have done better. Of course, he would not have played in every game, but he would have been there enough to make more of a difference. Perhaps he would have even earned himself the one last contract extension that he was eventually denied. Alas, we shall never know. After many years of steady progress on and off the pitch, Roma find themselves back at square one following a dismal season, which saw changes in the squad, head coach and sporting director.
For the first time in six years, Roma failed to finish in the Champions League places, meaning even more changes are set to take place this summer. Missing out on qualifying for the competition is a huge blow to the club's finances, meaning key players are likely to be sold, and with no clear sign of who is going to take over as the next coach, the situation is becoming more complicated by the day. Here, Giallorossi Yorkshire takes a look at what happened in the summer after the last time Roma finished sixth (in 2012-13), to see if that can give any insight into how the club might set about their rebuild this time around. The managerial situation Just like this season, Roma's last majorly disappointing year ended with a caretaker manager in charge. Aurelio Andreazzoli, long-time assistant at the club, had replaced Zdenek Zeman on an interim basis in February, but like Claudio Ranieri this year, wasn't given the role full-time. Instead, Roma's leadership looked abroad. Lille coach Rudi Garcia was appointed as the new head coach, despite having never played or coached in Italy before. Garcia had led Lille to the Ligue 1 and Coupe De France double in 2010-11, with the league title being their first since the 1950s. However, his final season in charge had seen the French side finish 6th, just like the club he was joining. It was a somewhat left-field appointment, a calculated gamble, but it almost had the desired effect. Under Garcia, Roma won their first 10 Serie A matches, setting a new league record. However, the momentum was lost towards the end of the season, and Roma finished runners up to Juventus. In the short-term, Garcia gave Roma the breath of fresh air they needed, but he could never quite recapture that original magic thereafter. Perhaps Roma will pick out a foreign manager again this time. Could it be Paulo Fonseca from Shakhtar in Ukraine, or Pepe Bordalas from Getafe in Spain? The sales Several big names were sold following the failure to qualify for the Champions League. The most expensive departures were Erik Lamela for €30m and Marquinhos for €35m, two young South Americans who had blossomed at Roma and moved on to bigger things. Another significant departure was that of Dani Osvaldo, who moved to Southampton after two seasons with Roma, in both of which he was top scorer. Fellow attacker Bojan Krkic, who had spent the year out on loan at Milan, was bought back by Barcelona. In addition, goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and midfielder Panagiotis Tachtisidis were moved on for small sums, while the squad was hit with the retirement of a legendary midfielder in Simone Perrotta - similar to how Roma are losing Daniele De Rossi now. Of course, Roma can expect to sell big names this summer, too. Kostas Manolas and Cengiz Under are probably the most likely candidates. They are the Marquinhos and Lamela of this team, in a way - two talents, a defender and a winger, who were given a platform by this club and can be sold on for a big profit. The Osvaldo to leave will likely be Edin Dzeko, who has not matched his standards of the past two seasons, and has been linked with PSG and Inter Milan. Dzeko's former Manchester City teammate, Aleksandar Kolarov, could also leave, with a return to boyhood club Red Star mooted. The signings In light of all the departures, some major signings were needed, and Roma ended up bringing 13 players to the club. Three of those - Gianluca Caprari, Giammario Piscitella and Valerio Verre - were returning after loans or co-ownerships, although the latter two were sold on straight away. The signings were a mix of talents picked from smaller Serie A clubs, and exciting arrivals from overseas. To replace Marquinhos, Mehdi Benatia was brought in from Udinese (who had finished fifth), while Lamela's departure was accounted for by the signings of Adem Ljajic and Gervinho - the latter having been part of the side that had won Ligue 1 under Garcia at Lille. The most expensive purchase was Kevin Strootman, a 23-year-old Dutch midfielder arriving from PSV. At the other end of the scale, the cheapest addition was Maicon, who joined on a free from Man City. Mattia Destro came in from Genoa, after top scoring on loan at Siena, while Morgan De Sanctis came in as the new first choice goalkeeper. How might a similar scenario play out this year? One defender who has been linked with the club is Gianluca Mancini. Like Udinese in 2013, Atalanta finished above Roma this year, and the Giallorossi could take one of their most important components to restore the natural order. The identity of the next coach is unclear, but perhaps he too will be reunited with a former player, who can become Garcia's Gervinho. Will Roma look at free agents like they did with Maicon? A number of decent players will be available for nothing this summer: Fernando Llorente has been linked as a replacement for Edin Dzeko, for example. The young potential In 2013, Roma also added some younger players, like Tin Jedvaj and Lukasz Skorupski, to freshen up the roster. This year, Banfield's Agustin Urzi has been linked, a 19-year-old Argentine winger. Players from the club's own youth ranks were also given bigger roles in the first team, such as defender Alessio Romagnoli, and, to a lesser extent, winger Federico Ricci. Will Roma supplement their squad next season with the talents of midfielder Alessio Riccardi, striker Zan Celar, or winger Gianmarco Cangiano, for example? Or perhaps a former youth player will be brought back, like Caprari was - Davide Frattesi, who was sold to Sassuolo in 2017, has been linked with a return after impressing on loan at Ascoli this year, and Luca Pellegrini can come back from his loan at Cagliari with renewed optimism of breaking into the Roma first team. The results As mentioned above, the changes Roma made had an immediate positive effect. The season ended with a second place finish in the league and a run to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, where they lost on aggregate to Napoli despite a first leg win. Several of the new signings strengthened the side, with Benatia, Gervinho, Destro, Skorupski and Strootman all being sold for profit in the future. Destro was Roma's top scorer in his debut year, Strootman was magnificent, and De Sanctis became a reliable number one. Even some of the outgoings worked in Roma's favour. Lamela has been injury prone at Tottenham Hotspur, Stekelenburg has never really played regularly since leaving, and Osvaldo, most bizarrely of all, has quit football altogether to become a musician. Despite all the turbulence, things worked out well in the end - at least in the short-term. So, even though the picture remains unclear in the present day, perhaps there is hope that Roma can recover next year, and return to where they should be. The big decisions must be made now.
Roma's outside chances of reaching the top four all-but disappeared with a frustrating 0-0 draw at Sassuolo.
A win would have seen Roma set up an exciting last day of the season, but now it looks extremely unlikely that they can qualify for next season's Champions League. Truth be told, Roma could have played all day without scoring - although Federico Fazio did have the ball in the back of the net late on, with the goal ruled out for an offside in the buildup. Here are the Giallorossi Yorkshire player ratings from the game. Antonio Mirante - 7 One of the few names who will avoid criticism when the season is over. Mirante has added stability since coming into the team, and made an impressive save with his feet to deny Filip Djuricic in the first half. Alessandro Florenzi - 6 Lost his individual battle with Sassuolo winger Jeremie Boga, who got past him too easily many times. However, Florenzi looked a little sharper going forward, even if the chance he created for Stephan El Shaarawy came from two miskicks. Federico Fazio - 7 Shifted over to the right side of the centre-back duo in the absence of Kostas Manolas, Fazio read the game well, apart from the one lapse in concentration that led to the Djuricic chance that Mirante thwarted. Fazio can be a danger man as an emergency forward when things aren't going to plan, and he nearly was again, showing good technique for his disallowed goal. He's increasingly becoming one of the leaders of this squad. Juan Jesus - 7 Jesus is always a competent replacement when Roma are missing one of their regular centre-backs. He won some headers and was confident enough in possession. Aleksandar Kolarov - 6 Kept Domenico Berardi reasonably quiet, but offered little going forward and some of his crosses were not accurate enough. Steven Nzonzi - 7 In last week's win over Juventus, Nzonzi was the best outfield player for Roma, and while he didn't quite reach those standards in Reggio Emilia, he was one of the better performers again. He made good blocks and tackles, and also showed his strength in the air. Bryan Cristante - 7.5 Perhaps motivated by Daniele De Rossi's comments in the week that he is a model professional and a player that Roma should build around, Cristante had one of his best games for the club. He was a midfield enforcer, breaking up play and starting attacks with his passing. He also came close to a goal, when his header was pushed away by Andrea Consigli. Roma's best player on the night. Cengiz Under - 5 Had the first shot of the match, but faded after that. Last week, his impact from the bench helped unlock the game against Juventus, but making his first start in three games, he was less effective. Nicolo Zaniolo - 5 Saw a fair share of the ball again, but struggled with limited space. As should have been expected, the experimentation of playing him in different positions has not done him much good, as even playing in his preferred role, he struggled. The end of the season can't come soon enough for Roma's young starlet, who looks fatigued and needs to recharge his batteries. Stephan El Shaarawy - 7 The most confident of the three attacking midfielders, El Shaarawy got into good positions and showcased his dribbling ability. The one downside was the chance he missed after being inadvertently set up by Florenzi - given his scoring form this season, he should have done better with his volley, which fell just wide of the post. Edin Dzeko - 5 Like Zaniolo, Dzeko needs this season to end. It has been far more resemblant of his nightmare first season with Roma than his impressive last two. He was caught offside far too many times, perhaps a sign of laziness. His one memorable shot was a pointless left-footed effort which caused no problems whatsoever for Consigli. Subs: Javier Pastore If there's any consolation fans can take from Pastore's 25-minute cameo, it's that it was probably his last appearance for the club. The flop of the season continued in the same way he has gone all year, not adapting to the pace of the game. His concentration was off and so was his quality. Justin Kluivert Brought on at the same time as Pastore, he didn't fare much better. To a lesser extent, the winger has also not lived up to his reputation this season, but maybe he was always overhyped due to the name on his back. He went close to scoring, but failed to realise where the ball was, in what should have been an easy chance. Diego Perotti Brought on too late to have an impact; should have come on earlier instead of Pastore. Coach: Claudio Ranieri - 6 Tried not to tinker too much with a winning formula from last week, and released Zaniolo into a position in which he should have thrived, so Ranieri can't take too much responsibility for the players' failure to perform. However, his decision to bring on someone who has been as ineffectual as Pastore was a bad call. Sentiment aside, even De Rossi would have been a better option. While the two holding midfielders did well for Roma, De Rossi adds something that they don't - a drive from deep that encourages those ahead of him to push on. Instead, the attackers lacked motivation and quality. Nonetheless, Ranieri can only work with what is available to him, and it cannot be denied that he has given his all for his beloved club in his brief time in charge.
Roma became just the third side to beat Juventus in Serie A this season on Sunday night with a well-deserved 2-0 win.
It's the first time Roma have beaten the Italian champions in their last four meetings, and it was a win to savour, with Alessandro Florenzi and Edin Dzeko getting the goals late on to extend Roma's unbeaten run to seven games. Here are the Giallorossi Yorkshire player ratings from the match. Antonio Mirante - 8 Where would Roma be if Mirante had been brought into the side much sooner in the season? The veteran goalkeeper put in arguably his best performance of the season to deny the club he came through the youth ranks at, 15 years ago. Mirante pulled off a number of impressive saves, getting strong hands to a shot from Juan Cuadrado at the end of a counter attack, and making two fine stops from Paulo Dybala efforts in the first half alone. Alessandro Florenzi - 7 Taunted by Cristiano Ronaldo for being small, Roma's stand-in captain had the last laugh by scoring the goal that set Roma on their way to victory. He looked like the Florenzi of old, driving forward with his passion and commitment, making the occasional mistake, but showing the hunger to overcome it. His goal was a fine finish over Wojciech Szczesny, and his celebration under the Curva Sud served as a reminder that Florenzi can still be a hero for this team. Kostas Manolas - 7.5 Roma knew they would have to absorb some pressure from Juventus, and their centre-back partnership played their part in keeping the visitors at bay. Manolas made a couple of good blocks and looked more like a leader than he has been recently. He raised his game when his side needed him most. Federico Fazio - 8 Fazio was an equally important part of the backline, and was also a significant presence going forward. The Argentine started some attacks with his confident dribbling out from the back, always looking to get involved. At his peak - which he was against Juve - he can still be the beating heart of Roma's defence. Aleksandar Kolarov - 7 His poor form in the middle of the season seems to have been put behind him for good now. Kolarov, like his opposite full-back Florenzi, wasn't afraid to get forward, helping Roma to make the most of counter attacks. He also limited the involvement of Juve winger Juan Cuadrado. A consummate professional. Steven Nzonzi - 8 Mirante may take the man of the match award, but Nzonzi was possibly Roma's best outfield player. The Frenchman was a combative presence, making crunching tackles that allowed Roma to play on the break. Nzonzi seemed to be alert to any threat that Juventus were posing, and snuffed out as much of the danger as possible. Lorenzo Pellegrini - 6 It was another below par performance from Pellegrini, who has not been quite the same since returning from injury. Once again, he was the first man to be brought off, with his only major contributions being a couple of crosses into the box and a decent left-footed effort which nearly caught Szczesny out. Nicolo Zaniolo - 5.5 Restored to a more central role in a midfield three, Zaniolo wasn't really up to speed with the pace of the game. His involvement was minimal, and he made a couple of sloppy passes. Maybe he was affected by playing against the team he supports. It leaves Roma with a lot to think about in terms of how they can get the best out of him again. Justin Kluivert - 6 With his pace, Kluivert was a positive outlet for Roma, but his decision making often let him down. The 20-year-old saw plenty of the ball, but didn't really convert that possession into chances, sometimes giving it away in dangerous areas. Edin Dzeko - 7 After going through the first half almost as a passenger, Dzeko stepped it up in the second half, ending with a goal and an assist. His goal, coming at the end of a counter attacking move, was a confident finish, showing signs of the player that Roma came to rely on in his more successful seasons. The assist for Florenzi's goal was also well executed. Stephan El Shaarawy - 7 A marauding presence up and down the left wing, El Shaarawy played like someone full of confidence. And so he should be, given his decisive contributions in recent weeks. He forced Szczesny into a good save with a long-range effort in the second half after reacting to his own misplaced pass. Subs: Bryan Cristante - 5 Wasn't particularly noticeable after replacing Pellegrini. Cengiz Under - 7 Even though he was only on the pitch for 12 minutes, Under changed the game. He showed good footwork when he played the ball to Florenzi before the Roman's one-two with Dzeko for the opener, and claimed the assist for Dzeko's goal with some speedy dribbling and a perfectly placed pass. When fully fit, he needs to be the starter. Coach: Claudio Ranieri - 8 Set his side up with the perfect balance. Roma's approach was pragmatic and effective, as they soaked up the pressure in the first half, frustrating their rivals, and were braver and more clinical in the second period. His substitution of Under for Kluivert was a big turning point in the game, given the impact that the Turk had. 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. With seven games remaining in the Serie A season, it's still all to play for in the race for the Champions League spaces, with at least six teams still in contention to join Juventus and Napoli in the top four.
After a positive week that saw Roma draw with Fiorentina and beat Sampdoria - dealing major blows to both sides' prospects of sneaking into fourth spot - Claudio Ranieri's side have reaffirmed the belief that they too are well in the mix, and they now lie just one point away from their target. It's still all to play for, as Roma, Lazio, Atalanta and Torino look to catch out the two Milan clubs that currently sit in third and fourth. Here are 10 players - five belonging to Roma, and five opponents - who could have a major say in whether or not the Lupi end the season in the top four. Stephan El Shaarawy The Italian winger is on course to record his first season with double figures of league goals since 2012-13 thanks to his impressive displays for the Giallorossi this season. El Shaarawy has been a threat from the left-hand side, and having recently returned to full fitness, he will be ready for the final push at the end of the campaign. While Edin Dzeko continues to misfire, El Shaarawy's goals could be crucial to Roma's top four ambitions. Moise Kean (Juventus) He's the name on everybody's lips at the moment - Moise Kean looks like the real deal, and has scored in each of his last five games for club and country. Before the end of the season, the champions elect play Inter, Atalanta, Roma and Torino. With Kean's current goalscoring form, Juve boss Max Allegri simply has to keep playing him, and if he continues the way he is, the 19-year-old could do some serious damage to any of their opponents' hopes for the remainder of the campaign. Rolando Mandragora (Udinese) Like Juventus, Udinese will face four of the six sides competing for a place in next season's Champions League before the end of the season, starting with Roma on Saturday. Midfielder Mandragora has been one of their most-used players this season, and the 21-year-old is in good form, having scored in two of their last five games. He will be at the centre of any midfield battles when Udinese take on Inter, Atalanta and Lazio. Cengiz Under This season has been disrupted by injuries for Roma's exciting young winger, but Under is now healthy again and looks set to make a big contribution in the final few weeks. With his eye for goal and willingness to run at opponents, he could create meaningful chances for his teammates. Under can be an important option for Ranieri. Alessandro Florenzi 2018-19 has been a disappointment for Roma's vice-captain. He gave away the decisive penalty which saw La Magica eliminated from the Champions League, and has struggled with niggly injuries. However, he is on the mend, and with fellow right-backs Rick Karsdorp and Davide Santon both injured, he has a role to fill in the immediate future. What he sometimes lacks in ability, he can make up for in passion and desire, and he will need to call on that winning mentality to help his beloved team in the all-important run-in. Senad Lulic (Lazio) A player that Roma fans have come to hate, Lazio's Senad Lulic scored the winning goal against the Giallorossi in the 2013 Coppa Italia final, and has delivered a fair share of nasty blows against opponents in the Derby Della Capitale, both on and off the pitch. With Lazio having Milan, Atalanta and Torino left to play, and Lulic being on a high after scoring a last-minute equaliser in their most recent game, how he would love to play the role of pantomime villian yet again by helping his side make the top four at the expense of any of the above. It's a sight every Roma fan will be hoping they don't have to see. Antonio Mirante Recently usurping Robin Olsen in the Roma goal, Mirante is now Ranieri's first-choice keeper, and must continue to be the reliable figure that the Giallorossi need between the sticks. Mirante kept a clean sheet last time out, against Sampdoria - the side's first in nearly a month - and will be a pivotal figure as Roma look to thwart the dangerous attacks of the likes of Inter, Juventus and Sassuolo. Gervinho (Parma) Another opponent that Roma have left to play is Parma, who they will meet on the final day of the season. In doing so, they will come up against a player who was once their own in Gervinho. The pacy attacker has excelled in his first season back in Italy following a stint in China, netting 13 goals in 27 matches in all competitons. As well as Roma, Parma can dent the top four aspirations of Milan when the two sides meet next Saturday. Could Gervinho make one last contribution to his former teammates by helping them make ground on the Rossoneri? Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo) With Atalanta, Roma and Torino left to play, Sassuolo could derail a number of opponents in the race for UCL qualification. Central to their hopes of doing so could be their one-club man, Domenico Berardi. The Italian winger has scored six league goals this season, more than he managed in either of the previous two campaigns. Among his victims have been Lazio, Inter and Napoli, so he isn't averse to scoring against a big opponent, and will be a threat to anyone he comes across in the closing weeks. Nicolo Zaniolo Roma's star of the season, Nicolo Zaniolo has impressed with his skill, physicality and eye for goal. Truth be told, he came off the boil a little bit in the last few weeks of Eusebio Di Francesco's tenure as head coach, but he looks like he's rediscovering his best form - and not a moment too soon, as Roma need all their key players to step up for the last push. Zaniolo is firmly among that group now, fully established as a first teamer and potential match winner. Having scored against Fiorentina, he will be eager to add to his goal tally, and he knows he has the faith of his coach, teammates and fans as he prepares himself to sign off his maiden Serie A campaign on a high note.
10th April, 2018 is a date that no Roma fan will ever forget.
It was the date on which the Giallorossi pulled off one of the most miraculous comebacks in the history of the Champions League, as they dominated five-time winners Barcelona to reach the semi-finals for the first time since the competition changed its name from the European Cup. It was the date on which the unthinkable became reality. For a team of Roma's size to overcome one of the biggest clubs in Europe, whose lineup featured two of the very best footballers of all-time in Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, alongside several more stars of the modern game, was beyond even the most optimistic fan's wildest dreams. But there was something about that night that felt like it was destiny for Roma to win. When Edin Dzeko opened the scoring six minutes in, it didn't feel like an ordinary goal. It felt like a platform for Roma to build on. It was the spark they needed to believe in a most unlikely victory. The players ran back to their own half, ready for kick-off. It was clear already that the Lupi weren't there to make up the numbers. Even if everyone had already written them off, they had a game to win, and they weren't going to stop until it was impossible. They proved that night that it wasn't impossible. They approached the game with the right hunger and desire. It was generally accepted that they had been unlucky to lose 4-1 in the first leg. The game had been much closer than that, and conceding two own goals was extremely unfortunate. But nobody could have predicted the way they would go about the return fixture. For once, in the second half, luck was on Roma's side. They were correctly awarded a penalty after Gerard Pique brought down Edin Dzeko in the penalty area underneath the Curva Sud. There was only one man who was going to take the spot kick: the inspirational captain Daniele De Rossi. De Rossi may have been nearer the end of his career than most of his teammates, but that didn't mean he couldn't dream as well. After more than 15 years of service to his beloved club, DDR was more determined than anyone to record another remarkable achievement. As he began his run up for the penalty, his eyes were fixed firmly on the ball. He had the focus of the consummate professional that he was, is, and always has been. He could make no mistake from that spot kick. 2-0 Roma. Eusebio Di Francesco's side had a little over half an hour to get the one more goal they needed to write their names in history. The fans in the Stadio Olimpico had been singing all through the night - they didn't need anyone to tell them it was possible to believe - and their voices were only getting louder, as the chances of completing the comeback became ever-more realistic. With eight minutes remaining, it couldn't have got any more real. Roma won a corner, and Cengiz Under delivered the ball to the near post. Watching the movement of the ball every step of the way was Kostas Manolas, and he timed his run to perfection to get into the space. He had a clear view of the ball, but still had a lot of work to do. Arching his neck, he connected with the ball, sending it across goal. A second later, it dropped into the net. The Stadio exploded.
The buzz around the last 10 minutes was palpable. The crowd were one body, willing Roma on for the final push they needed. At the start of the night, the focus had been on scoring. Now, for the last hurdle, they had to switch their attention to keeping the ball out of their own net.
That they managed to do, and the scenes upon the final whistle were incredible. The squad and coaching staff raced around the pitch in excitement, trying to make sense of the significance of what they had just achieved. They had controlled the game against a side far superior in quality to them, sealing the perfect win and ensuring their European adventure would continue. And the remarkable thing was, they hadn't got lucky. They fully deserved to win in the manner they did. It was an atmosphere like no other. No supporter wanted to leave the venue. This was a magical night and they wanted to live every moment of it, to share it with the players who had done them so proud.
Even outside the stadium, the jubilant atmosphere continued. The city was alive that night. Car horns were blaring in celebration, fans on the streets screaming 'FORZA ROMA' as loud as they could. Flags and scarves were waving out of the windows of people's homes. Everyone was a part of it. It didn't matter if people had met before; everyone was celebrating together that night.
One year on, it still feels dreamlike. There are so many questions that still don't have a clear answer - most beginning with the word 'How'. How did it happen? How was that possible? How wasn't it a dream? But it wasn't a dream. It was all real. It was a monumental event that can never be taken away from this club and its fans. Through the highs and the lows, the memory of that extraordinary April night will live on. As the players who were part of that miracle leave one by one, they will still remain a part of Roma's history, for the scale of what they achieved. Every single one of them will be remembered for the part they played. The story of 10th April, 2018, will live on in the hearts of every Romanista across the world, serving as a reminder of what is possible when the belief is there. That result was colossal, on a level that is unlikely to be matched for a long time. Rome was the centre of the world once again. It's a story of a team who never gave up. A story of a squad who refused to listen to the odds. It's a story of a club whose history has been filled with ups and downs; but that night, they created a positive to outweigh every negative that had gone before. They won a football match that nobody thought they could. But it was far more significant than that. They brought joy to their people, who hadn't felt it for such a long time. That night, they made themselves heroes. 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. It's all change at Roma, with sporting director Monchi exiting the club less than 24 hours after the dismissal of head coach Eusebio Di Francesco.
It's fair to say that Monchi didn't live up to expectations at Roma, and the pressure seems to have got to him, as he reached a mutual agreement to leave after less than two seasons. Monchi will be remembered for orchestrating some big sales at Roma - with the likes of Alisson Becker, Radja Nainggolan and Mohamed Salah moving on under his stewardship - but it's the incomings that have come under even more scrutiny. Even with the big cash generated from those sales, Monchi didn't always replace the talent effectively, opting for depth rather than improvements to the starting lineup. One or two key players he brought in will stand out as a legacy of his brief tenure, but many will be remembered as disappointments. Here is a rundown of all his signings that made a senior appearance for the club, ranked from worst to best. 19. Javier Pastore One of Monchi's most expensive additions, and certainly his most disappointing. Pastore has been an embarrassment to the team with his lazy attitude and lack of desire. It always seemed like a pointless signing - Pastore didn't fit into the 4-3-3 system that Di Francesco was using at the time, had struggled with injury in recent years, and was past his prime. What's more, for Monchi to offer a 29-year-old player a five-year contract was ludicrous. 18. Jonathan Silva Remember him? When, in Monchi's first season, Aleksandar Kolarov was suffering from burnout and Roma needed a genuine alternative at left-back, Monchi decided to bring in an injured player who was struggling for gametime at Sporting. It's still baffling to this day. 17. Hector Moreno A player that Monchi had pursued for a long time, but it didn't go as he would've hoped. Moreno made just six appearances at the back end of 2017 before quickly being moved on to Real Sociedad. A huge impact, then. 16. Maxime Gonalons On the face of it, this initially seemed like a decent signing. Roma needed someone to gradually take over from Daniele De Rossi in holding midfield, and former France international and Lyon captain Gonalons could well have been that man. Alas, he struggled to adjust to the demands of Italian football, and rarely put in a good performance. Another one to soon be moved on, he joined Sevilla after just one season. Incidentally, he has only made five appearances there all season. 15. Ante Coric Coric could turn out to be a decent player after all, but with just 19 minutes of Serie A action to his name so far, it doesn't seem like this was the wisest move from Monchi. Roma's midfield has been overcrowded this season, meaning there has been no space for the Croatian to develop. Time will tell if he goes on to become a top class player, but for now he seems like a waste of money. 14. Gregoire Defrel He could have been a suitable vice-Dzeko, but Defrel didn't cope well with making the step up to Roma. Often being deployed out of position on the wing made things hard for him, but even so, he looked out of his depth and not strong enough to compete at the highest level. His form for Sampdoria this season has been much-improved, so perhaps there is still a player in there and Roma just didn't use him right. 13. Ivan Marcano Marcano can go into the same category as Gonalons. At first sight, it seemed like a shrewd move. Picking up an experienced player on a free transfer in a position where Roma needed to improve - it all sounded good. However, Marcano has struggled to nail down a regular place in the side, and doesn't appear to have the required physicality. 12. Rick Karsdorp This one could have been a lot lower if it hadn't been for Karsdorp's resurgence in 2019. When Roma desperately needed cover at right-back, Monchi for some reason decided to sign a player for the role who was already carrying an injury. Those problems kept Karsdorp away from the team for the majority of his debut season, meaning the uninspiring Alessandro Florenzi and Bruno Peres had to share the position. However, on the odd occasion this term, Karsdorp has come into the side and shown enough quality to suggest why Monchi put his faith in him. Future performances could definitely see his position on this list rise. 11. Robin Olsen Whilst some of the criticism Olsen has come in for this season has been a tad unfair, he was hardly the most inspiring replacement for Alisson. True, most keepers worldwide would have been a downgrade on the Liverpool-bound Brazilian, but fans were probably hoping for a better replacement. He has put in some decent performances, and he remains a starter for Sweden internationally, but he has made some high-profile blunders this year which suggest Roma should have been a bit more bold in bringing in a new keeper. Still, on the balance of things, he probably deserves a second season to prove his worth. 10. Antonio Mirante The other goalkeeper brought in by Monchi in the summer - as well as Daniel Fuzato, who is yet to appear for the first team - Mirante just pips Olsen in this list due to the lower expectations on him. Mirante has been a capable back up so far, and probably has some justified arguments to say he should have started more matches. His experience will come in handy during his time at Roma, but even so, he still seems like a downgrade on last season's number two, Lukasz Skorupski. 9. Patrik Schick Roma parted with a lot of money to bring Schick to the club, in a deal which could eventually surpass their record transfer fee. He hasn't always carried that weight on his shoulders well. In his first season, the pressure he felt was visible, and after battling with injury, he made a few poor mistakes upon his return. This season has improved slightly - especially since his hiring of a mental coach - but he certainly hasn't provided value for money. However, it's beginning to look like he could develop and recapture the form he showed at Sampdoria with the right attitude. 8. Justin Kluivert The jury's still out. Kluivert is an exciting player with big potential, but has perhaps come to Roma too early in his career. He hasn't seen as much gametime as he would have liked - and probably would have deserved - but a change of manager could see him get a run in the team. There's plenty of time for Kluivert to grow. 7. Bryan Cristante Another expensive player who could eventually cost Roma €30m, Cristante has endured mixed fortunes with the Giallorossi. The Italian midfielder sometimes looks composed, but can ghost out of games. He's a long way off matching the 12 goals he scored for Atalanta last season, but at least he hasn't stood out for being bad. 6. Steven Nzonzi Arguably the marquee signing of summer 2018, Nzonzi arrived as a freshly-crowned World Cup winner to add more quality to the centre of the park - trying to do a better job of it than Gonalons did. That he has most certainly done, but he's still sometimes looked a shadow of the world class player he can be. He's done well enough, but hasn't shown what he is fully capable of. 5. Lorenzo Pellegrini In terms of potential, he would probably top this list, but Monchi can't take the full credit for his signing. When Walter Sabatini sold Pellegrini to Sassuolo in 2015, he inserted a buyback clause into the deal, which was duly exercised as one of Monchi's first decisions in Rome. After an inconsistent but decent first season, Pellegrini has kicked on this campaign, and is a player that Roma really need to build around for the future. 4. Davide Santon Many fans were disappointed when Santon came to Roma as a makeweight in the deal to take the popular Nainggolan to Inter. However, Santon has proved his doubters wrong by putting in some solid, if unspectacular, performances. Like Mirante, he will probably feel like he has done enough to earn more starts. But at just shy of €10m, he has been a shrewd addition who can offer cover in either full-back position. 3. Aleksandar Kolarov Another one that wasn't fully down to Monchi, but has still been a really shrewd purchase. Reportedly on the suggestion of his former Manchester City teammate Edin Dzeko, Kolarov came to Roma in 2017 when the club's other left-back Emerson Palmieri was injured. Kolarov made an instant impact on the team, scoring on his debut and emerging as a key leader. As mentioned above, he did start to suffer from burnout, but that was because of his exceptional levels of performance. He's had a few hairy moments this season, but is still standing out as a senior figure in the dressing room and will feel like he maintains a lot to contribute. 2. Cengiz Under Monchi arrived with a reputation for plucking wonderkids out of relative obscurity and seeing them become top class talent, and Under was perhaps the one player he brought to Roma who embodied that most. Few would have heard of his exploits with Istanbul Basakeshir in the Turkish Super Lig, but, after a patient first half to the 2017-18 season, Under really began to turn on the fire in a Roma shirt with a string of wonder goals in the first few months of 2018. His form has reportedly caught the attention of Bayern Munich and Arsenal, among others. Monchi himself is expected to end up at the latter, so Roma may need to be wary of the London club coming in for him. No doubt, though, that the Lupi would turn a huge profit in the event of a sale. 1. Nicolo Zaniolo He wasn't the inspiring name that Roma fans wanted to see following Nainggolan's exit. He'd never played in Serie A. He was only 19 years old. It just didn't look like he was going to be a first team player. But Zaniolo's hard work changed that. Now, he is the blossoming star of Italian football, catching the attention of fans inside the country and even beyond. He has been a bright spark in a disappointing season, impressing with his confidence, creativity and movement. He has now reached five goals for the club - some of them spectacular - and has started nine of the team's last 10 matches. Some have even heralded him as the new Francesco Totti and called for him to be given the number 10 shirt, and while that may be taking things a little too far, it can't be denied that Zaniolo has got every Roma fan excited for the future. And for less than €5m? He's looking like an absolute bargain. |
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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