GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
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.
0 Comments
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's top four hopes suffered a setback yesterday with a 1-1 draw away at Genoa, leaving Claudio Ranieri's side three points behind with three games left.
It was a tight game, but Roma thought they had found the winner when Stephan El Shaarawy powered the ball home in the 82nd minute. However, a stoppage time equaliser from Cristian Romero meant it was a case of two points dropped for the Giallorossi. The result was nothing other than what Genoa deserved, having caused several problems for Roma's defence. In the end, their poor finishing - including Antonio Sanabria's missed penalty in stoppage time - spared Roma from defeat. If Krzysztof Piatek had still been at the club, then one has to wonder if it could have been a whole lot worse for Roma. Nonetheless, the top four race isn't over, and the performance wasn't as bad as some have made it out to be. Whilst it was definitely one of the lower points of Ranieri's brief tenure, there were some positive signs from individuals, that will give Roma hope of getting six points from their last three matches. It may not be enough to secure Champions League football, but in reality, fifth place would be an achievement given where the side was at Christmas. As the fallout continues from the game, here are the Giallorossi Yorkshire player ratings. Antonio Mirante - 6.5 It was probably Mirante's worst game since he usurped Robin Olsen as first choice. However, he still made some important saves throughout the game that Olsen probably wouldn't have managed. Mirante's positioning for Romero's goal should be called into question, as he didn't fully commit to punching the ball clear or staying on his goalline. Then, he gave away the penalty that could have handed Genoa all three points, but he made amends with a comfortable save from Sanabria's spot kick. Alessandro Florenzi - 7.5 Defensively, Florenzi still leaves something to be desired. He struggles to deal with crosses over his head, and it was a tactic Genoa could have utlised more to threaten Roma further. Offensively, however, it was Florenzi's best game in a while. He put in a number of inviting crosses - a quality that is often missing from his game - and got forward into some good positions. He was replaced late on after pulling up with a muscle injury. Kostas Manolas - 6 Manolas' underwhelming season continued as he found it difficult to deal with the pace of Christian Kouame. Genoa found no problems in getting at the Roma backline, and it was Manolas who was the weak link, with his reading of the play not the best. It wasn't a terrible performance, and thankfully none of his errors led to goals, but he is struggling to live up to his reputation at the minute. Federico Fazio - 7 Alongside Manolas, Fazio continued his upturn in form with a better display. 'Il Comandante' made a few important blocks, including one from a Kouame shot late on. He looks more confident than Manolas at present, and it will be critically important for Roma's season that he continues the way he is in the final three matches. Aleksandar Kolarov - 6.5 On the night, it was Kolarov's opposite full-back Florenzi who was delivering the majority of the better deliveries, which went against the usual plot. As for the Serbian, he didn't dominate his side of play like he sometimes can. He did occasionally indulge himself with his trademark chop, but he stopped short of breaking into the box like he sometimes does, ultimately making things easier for Genoa. Defensively, he struggled to keep pace, which is maybe why he was playing with more caution than usual. Bryan Cristante - 5.5 For a midfielder, Cristante's passing accuracy leaves something to be desired. Even when his passes did go to their intended target, he often put his teammates under pressure by playing the ball to them when they were being marked. There were a couple of better moments for him, when he tried switching the play, but his struggles in helping the team keep possession needs closer inspection from the coaching staff. Steven Nzonzi - 6.5 It was another better performance for Nzonzi, but he didn't quite grab the game by the scruff of the neck as he should be doing - or as the absent Daniele De Rossi would be. In his defence, he won several headers and made some good challenges. He's playing at a good level at the moment, but needs to make one more step up to reach the great levels which brought him to Roma in the first place. All in all though, not bad. Nicolo Zaniolo - 6 Once again, Zaniolo was a marked man, and it affected his output. Whilst he is more than capable of holding his own in a physical battle - just ask Domenico Criscito, who was outmuscled by him, fairly or otherwise, a couple of times - the very fact that he is being forced to get involved in them is affecting his ability to do what he does best. With his space and freedom restricted, he can't get the ball out of his feet and create things. There was one moment shortly before he was substituted, when he managed to break away inside and fire a shot in with his left foot, but his former Inter youth teammate Ionut Radu tipped it over. Lorenzo Pellegrini - 5 Perhaps one way that Zaniolo can rediscover his best is by being restored to a central position, and judging by Pellegrini's recent performances, he may get his opportunity soon. It's not through a lack of effort, but Pellegrini is not meeting the standards he reached earlier in the campaign. He found his time on the ball limited, and he was ultimately frustrated, being the first man to be withdrawn. Stephan El Shaarawy - 7.5 How many times is he going to be Roma's saviour? The winger got his 11th goal of the season with a cushioned left-footed volley, making it seem like he had inspired the side to victory again. He wanted to keep the celebration muted against his former club, but after a goal like that, he couldn't help himself break out into a little smile. He deserves all the plaudits he's getting, and is becoming more and more pivotal to Roma's potential success week by week. Edin Dzeko - 6 Technically got the assist for El Shaarawy's goal, nodding on Justin Kluivert's cross, but could have contributed more. Statistically, he had more shots than any other Roma player, but none of them really stick out in the mind, with just one of them being on target. He needs to get involved more, with better movement, if he wants to give himself a better chance of reaching double figures of league goals, needing two more from his last three games. Substitutes: Patrik Schick - 4 The first man to come on, Schick didn't do much with his 25 minutes on the pitch. He switched off and lost his man for the goal Genoa scored. Justin Kluivert - 4 Kluivert got 20 minutes on his 20th birthday, and he did get a card for the occasion - it was one of the yellow variety, given by the referee. Other than that, his major contribution was the cross that led to the goal. Rick Karsdorp - N/A Came on as a late replacement for Florenzi, making a return to action after not playing for a month due to injury. Coach: Claudio Ranieri - 5 Ranieri set Roma up a 4-2-3-1 formation which has become the norm in recent weeks. His decision to take Kluivert out of the starting lineup was not vindicated, as Zaniolo had a hard time of it out wide. Bringing the Dutchman on, as well as Schick, should have had an effect, but nothing much changed. Ranieri is trying his best for his team, but his faith in some players is perhaps not being repaid. Nonetheless, Roma would have lost this game earlier in the season. The minor improvement in mentality has coincided with Ranieri's tenure, and he will be making sure the players aren't resting on their laurels for the three games he has left with them. 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. The weekend saw the senior Italy debut of Roma's brightest prospects, Nicolo Zaniolo, increasing the already healthy number of internationals in the Giallorossi's present squad.
Many of those internationals are experienced players who arrived at Roma having already pulled on the national shirt dozens of times. However, Roma has proven to be successful in developing young talent, and helping those that have not yet featured on the world stage develop into important players for their countries. These are the 10 most recent players who were given their international debuts during their time at Roma. Nicolo Zaniolo (March 2019, Italy) This season has seen Zaniolo emerge as one of Italy's most important players for the future, and national coach Roberto Mancini has been aware of his potential all along. Zaniolo was given his first Italy call-up before he had even made his Roma debut, or even played at U21 level internationally, but didn't get to spend any time on the pitch. Since then, he has grown to prominence even further with impressive goals in Serie A and the Champions League. The humble midfielder finally got to make his senior Italy debut on Saturday, entering as a late substitute against Finland. It surely won't be the last time he plays for the Azzurri. Leandro Paredes (June 2017, Argentina) A player whose stock rose significantly during his time with Roma - thanks also to a fundamental loan spell at Empoli - Leandro Paredes arrived at the club in 2014 from Boca Juniors in his native Argentina. In his final season with the Giallorossi before departing for Zenit St Petersburg, the midfielder impressed, making 41 appearances in all competitions. At the end of that campaign, he was rewarded by Jorge Sampaoli with his senior Argentina debut - a full six years since his last youth international appearance, at U17 level. Paredes marked the occasion by scoring in a 6-0 win over Singapore, but he left Roma less than a month later. Alessandro Florenzi (November 2012, Italy) After a season-long loan with Crotone had given Alessandro Florenzi the experience he needed to kick on his professional career, the midfielder returned to Roma intent on nailing down a place in the first team. That he was able to achieve, and three months into his first season back in the capital, he was selected by Cesare Prandelli for the senior national team. Whilst injuries have disrupted his progress in his later career, Florenzi remains an integral part of the national setup, and has more than 30 caps to his name. Panagiotis Tachtsidis (November 2012, Greece) Making his international debut on the exact same day as Florenzi, the midfielder, who was 21 at the time, made his Greece bow against Republic of Ireland. He spent a sole season at Roma, making 23 appearances in all competitions, but beyond that, he still remained in the eyes of his national selectors enough to warrant a place in their 2014 World Cup squad. Leandro Castan (October 2012, Brazil) It still feels like a case of what might have been with Leandro Castan. The Brazilian defender was imperious for Roma in his maiden campaign in Italy, which saw him called up for the world's most successful national team for the first time. Sadly, he only made one more cap, before a cavernoma was discovered in his brain that would keep him out of action for months. It was a long road to recovery for the left-footer, and he was finally released by Roma last year. Since, he has fortunately been able to find regular playing time again, in his homeland with Vasco da Gama. Mattia Destro (August 2012, Italy) Mattia Destro was a player whose light shone brightly for a short period of time, before he disappeared into mediocrity. After a 12-goal season for Siena in 2011-12, the striker was snapped up by Roma for an eight-figure sum. Sixteen days after making the transfer, Destro was given his Italy debut in a friendly against England. Seven further caps would follow over a two-year period, but he missed out on a place in the 2014 World Cup squad, and only played seven minutes of international football after that. Fabio Borini (February 2012, Italy) Fabio Borini made his Italy debut against the USA, midway through the season he spent on loan at Roma. His goalscoring exploits - he netted 10 times for the Giallorossi across the campaign - earned him a place in the nation's squad for Euro 2012. However, he did not play at the tournament, in which the Azzurri reached the final. Dani Osvaldo (October 2011, Italy) Three months after joining Roma from Espanyol, Argentine-born Dani Osvaldo seized his opportunity in the absence of some of Italy's main forwards. The controversial striker had previously represented Italy - the country of his great-grandfather's birth - at U21 level, and made the step up to senior international football in a victory over Northern Ireland. Jeremy Menez (August 2010, France) Two seasons with Roma had brought 69 appearances for then-23-year-old Jeremy Menez, and Laurent Blanc gave him his first start for France in a friendly with Norway. The winger featured heavily for his national team over the next two years - during which time he left Roma for PSG - and earned a place in their Euro 2012 squad. Max Tonetto (June 2007, Italy) Max Tonetto's one and only Italy cap came in June 2007, as he started at left-back against Faroe Islands in a qualifier for the next summer's European Championships. The Azzurri won 2-1 through a Filippo Inzaghi brace. Even though he lasted the full 90 minutes in that game, and went on to win the Coppa Italia with Roma the following season - the campaign in which he made the most appearances of his career with over 50 - Tonetto was never capped by Italy again. He retired in 2010, having made just shy of 300 appearances in Serie A. 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 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. After nearly two years in charge of Roma, Eusebio Di Francesco has left his role as the club's head coach.
Di Francesco's tenure will be remembered for a series of highs and lows, some of which were joyful, others frustrating. Here are four each of his biggest successes and failures during his time as Roma manager. Successes Champions League comeback against Barcelona It will go down in history as the most memorable night of Di Francesco's time as Roma coach. When the Giallorossi overturned a three-goal deficit by outplaying the five-time European champions, the football world stood still. All eyes were on Roma as they pulled off a miracle. Di Francesco's role in that triumph cannot be understated. It was he who made a bold decision to switch to a back-three, and it was justified, as several players put in the performances of their lives. He always thrived in an underdog role in previous jobs, and once again, EDF delivered when nobody expected him to. Outplaying Chelsea in the CL group stages Before that quarter-final victory, Roma had been involved in two dramatic group stage matches with Chelsea. The away tie, a 3-3 draw, saw the Lupi play with spirit and determination. Edin Dzeko's emphatic volley was easily the best goal the side scored all season. The home fixture was even better, as Roma dominated in a 3-0 win. Di Francesco's Roma showed they could compete with the best in Europe. Giving Nicolo Zaniolo a key role One of the standout stories this season has been the surprise emergence of Nicolo Zaniolo. The young Italian midfielder was signed from Inter in the summer, and even though Monchi takes the credit for his arrival, Di Francesco should be praised for giving him the platform on which to succeed. Instead of being loaned out as initially planned, Zaniolo stayed at the club, and EDF put faith in him, handing him a debut against Real Madrid, of all sides. Admittedly, Di Francesco has sometimes deployed Zaniolo in positions that won't aid his development, but overall, he should be recognised for his role in allowing the 19-year-old to flourish. Finding Lorenzo Pellegrini's best position Coming into Roma in 2017, Di Francesco was inheriting a squad he had little familiarity with. However, one player who came with him from Sassuolo was Roma youth product Pellegrini. The midfielder showed signs of being a good player in his first year, but was inconsistent. In 2018-19, EDF moved him into a more attacking midfield role, and it has allowed Pellegrini to thrive and contribute to more goals. The Italian midfielder remains adaptable and has filled in in deeper positions still, but his creativity has really come to the fore when he has been deployed as a trequartista. Failures Coppa Italia defeat to Fiorentina This one was really uncomfortable viewing. Roma were outplayed by La Viola as they slumped to a 7-1 loss. Di Francesco's preference for a high back line didn't help, and the players did not appear motivated. It was an awful night for the Giallorossi, and it really began to suggest that EDF was running out of time. First leg semi-final loss to Liverpool After completing the remarkable against Barcelona, expectations were high for Roma's next Champions League game. They were closer to a final than they'd ever been in the UCL era, and while Liverpool were a strong side, it was the best draw Roma could have asked for. Unfortunately, Roma were absolutely annihilated, as the Reds took a five-goal lead. The choice of a back three was this time a poor one, as it gave too much space for Liverpool's pacy front trio to attack. Even though Roma nearly clawed the tie back in the second leg, the decisions during the first fixture made the job far too difficult. Management of Justin Kluivert While EDF did give space to youngsters like Zaniolo and Cengiz Under, some others have been frozen out to an extent. Kluivert was an exciting signing, but has not been given enough space in his debut season. Limited to just eight Serie A starts, the Dutch winger hasn't been able to build on the form he showed with Ajax. Certainly given that Under has been injured for large parts of this season, it's disappointing that EDF didn't call on Kluivert more. Tactical inflexiblity It's perhaps a little harsh to say Di Francesco was completely inflexible tactically. In his second season, he did change to a 4-2-3-1 to change the team's dimensions. However, in his first season, his strict insistence on a 4-3-3 did not help some of the team's strongest players. The shape has proved to be useful for the team on some occasions, but more often than not, EDF was tactically immature, and it meant Roma suffered. Overall thoughts The time was right for Di Francesco to move on, but not without regret. A promising coach and a former Roma player, he had the chance to build something special with the club. He sometimes showed he could be brilliant, but often left fans frustrated as Roma dropped points against smaller clubs. Sometimes those fans were too harsh on him - his job is far from easy, and expectations are often far too high - but there have been enough bad performances recently to suggest that this is the right decision. It's a shame that it didn't work out, but EDF has his flaws, and it's now time for Roma to move on. Roma crashed out of the Champions League last night after a pathetic Giallorossi performance saw Porto advance from their Round of 16 clash after extra time.
Porto were easily the better side on the night, and they matched the 2-1 scoreline from the first leg to take the game to an additional 30 minutes. During that time, a needless penalty given away by Alessandro Florenzi gave the Portuguese side the chance they needed to seal the Lupi's fate, making it 4-3 on aggregate. Coupled with the weekend's loss to Lazio in the Derby Della Capitale, there will surely be a major fallout from this game. Here are the starting talking points. Roma cease to function in De Rossi's absence Once again, Roma proved how reliant they are on 35-year-old captain Daniele De Rossi. The veteran midfielder took charge when Roma were awarded a penalty late in the first half, coolly dispatching it past Iker Casillas. However, soon after, he was limping off injured, and that's where Roma began to fall apart. The Giallorossi lost all their rhythm following the captain's departure, and no-one stepped up to take over his leadership. Consequently, Roma lost structure, belief, and their cool, meaning Porto were always in the driving seat. Roma can only hope the injury to De Rossi isn't too serious, because, even at his age, he's still their most important player. Schick proves he can be a gamechanger One man who has seen a slight upturn in his fortunes recently is Patrik Schick, and the striker made some sort of impact after coming on in extra time. His fellow attacker, Edin Dzeko, had barely had a sniff all game, but following Schick's introduction, the Bosnian started to get a few chances. That was no coincidence. Schick gave him something to work around and link up with. Surely the Czech deserves more time in the first team picture now. Time for a rest, Zaniolo? By the end of extra time, Roma's young prodigy Nicolo Zaniolo looked absolutely exhausted. Yes, he's been in great form recently, but Eusebio Di Francesco has perhaps been putting too much faith in him. Zaniolo is still very young, and his gametime and workload need to be managed. Against Porto, he cut a frustrated figure, in a performance that starkly contrasted his output in the first leg. He was sloppy in possession, gave away cheap fouls - a theme that he needs to remove from his game - and lacked his usual spark. It's not all his fault. He's played too much football recently, and too much football out of position. He needs to be moved back to a central role, and have his workload limited, or else he will burn out before the end of the season. Di Francesco's last legs Going into the game, it was billed as a last chance saloon for Di Francesco. Lose, and he would be sacked. It's not the first time EDF has found himself under pressure, but this time he really didn't get the reaction he needed. After the 7-1 loss to Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia, it looked like he had one game left to save his job. In the following match, against Milan, the team showed enough of a reaction to suggest they were still fighting for him, as they earned a 1-1 draw. Last night, that didn't happen. Roma looked devoid of confidence and belief when they needed it most. The performance typified a side that had run out of ideas. Surely it's now time for a change. |
samuel bannister
Founder and editor of Giallorossi Yorkshire, who is also a columnist for Roma's official website about the women's team. Categories
All
Archives
October 2019
|