GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Roma returned from the winter break with a comfortable 4-0 win over Virtus Entella to kick off their Coppa Italia adventure for 2018-19.
Patrik Schick scored early in either half to help Roma on their way to victory, with Ivan Marcano netting his first goal for the club - just minutes after seeing a goal disallowed - and Javier Pastore completing the scoring. It wasn't Roma's smoothest performance, but it didn't need to be. This was a case of getting the job done against a lower-ranked opponent, giving some players essential minutes and getting back into the routine of competitive football after a couple of weeks off. Here are the game's biggest talking points. Karsdorp slots in well Rick Karsdorp's time at Roma has been an injury-plagued nightmare. One-and-a-half years after joining the club, he started for just the third time. The Dutchman fitted in well and didn't look like a player who had missed most of the last 18 months through injury. Going forward he was a threat, linking up well with Cengiz Under. Apart from a few lapses in concentration, Karsdorp did reasonably well in the defensive phase too. Whether this was a sign of things to finally come in a Roma shirt, or just an opportunity to put him in the shop window during the January transfer window, remains to be seen - but if it was the former, then there are plenty of positives to take. Kolarov influential in first half 2018 was a mixed bag for Aleksandar Kolarov, who after starting the 2017-18 season in amazing form, seemed to run out of steam. However, for the first 45 minutes at least, he was back to something resembling his best, powering up and down the left flank and putting in some inviting crosses - including the one from the set piece which led to Marcano's disallowed goal. The Serbian seemed to drop off the pace a little bit in the second half, but that was probably more prudence than fitness; the game was already won, and Kolarov didn't need to run himself to the ground when there are tougher challenges coming up.
Kluivert overcomes quiet start to make an impact
Whatever Kolarov lost in the first half, his companion on the left side, Justin Kluivert, seemed to gain. The first half saw Kluivert engaged in a battle with Entella right-back Francesco Belli, which proved to be much more competitive than he would have expected. Kluivert is still a young man and was getting outmuscled and struggling to find space. After the break, however, he began to grow in confidence on the ball, getting more touches and contributing to attacks. So much so, that he assisted both goals in the second half, with the through ball for Pastore's goal particularly standing out. Coppa confidence booster for Schick Patrik Schick lives for the Coppa Italia. He may have failed to live up to expectations at Roma in general, but in the domestic cup he becomes a different proposition. It was the competition in which he scored his first Roma goal last season, and once again it gave him a platform to build on. He led the line well, using his physicality in a way not often seen during his time with the club so far. He had a hand in the first three goals, backheeling the first one in and using the same technique to set up Marcano for the second. Whether anything different should have been expected ought to be addressed. Schick thrives in games against lower opponents. In pre-season, he scored a first-half hat-trick against Latina and followed it up with a goal against Avellino. It was enough to deceive some into believing that this could be his breakout season at Roma. The first half of the season hasn't proven those claims, and perhaps it would be hasty to say that this is the moment from which Schick kicks on. However, it will have done his confidence a world of good, and with the psychological aspects boosted, who knows how this will affect his form going forward?
Pastore is becoming Roma's Ozil
If there was one player who could be criticised for not doing enough, even though he scored, it would be Javier Pastore. The attacking midfielder played at virtually a walking pace throughout, when he really needed to take this opportunity to remind everyone of his qualities. In terms of technical ability, there are few, if any, better players in this squad. Pastore certainly believes so, and he needs to pull his head out of the clouds, knuckle down and work harder to become a truly important, functioning part of the starting lineup. Much like Mesut Ozil at Arsenal, he has bundles of talent, but if he doesn't break out of a jog every now and then to impose himself on games, he will soon find himself falling down the pecking order. Perhaps it was telling that it was Pastore starting this game instead of Nicolo Zaniolo. With the latter a former Entella player, he was expected to be assigned a key role in the match. However, Pastore was given the nod ahead of him. Was this because Eusebio Di Francesco sees Zaniolo as a more important player now and wanted to rest him? Or was it just to give Pastore minutes to boost his fitness again, in a bid to reintegrate him into the first team? Either motive could be possible, but with Zaniolo and Lorenzo Pellegrini also vying for that attacking midfield spot, Pastore must realise his position in the team isn't to be taken for granted and that he could have used a game like this to make a strong statement. Witnessing the start of something special? Roma are lucky enough to have four academy graduates plying their trade for the first team, in Daniele De Rossi, Alessandro Florenzi, and Lorenzo and Luca Pellegrini. Against Entella, a fifth Primavera product was given his first opportunity in the senior team. Alessio Riccardi has been tipped by many as the most likely player in the current youth setup to follow in the quartet's footsteps and break into the first team. With less than 10 minutes remaining, Di Francesco gave the Roman the chance to make his senior debut from the bench. Although usually an attacking midfielder, Riccardi slotted into a deeper role, and managed to get involved with the play. He looked a little nervous at times, but that's understandable for a boy of his age. Riccardi was barely two months old when Roma last won Serie A. The youngster looked to get involved and looked composed when playing short passes. He even went close to accidentally opening his Roma account with a goal when his (slightly rushed) cross nearly dropped in at the far post. It was only 10 minutes, and it could have been a lot more. Di Francesco could have brought him on a lot earlier, with the game already wrapped up early in the second half. However, a debut is a debut, and Riccardi did well enough to suggest that this might not be the only time he is seen in a Roma shirt. His next opportunity might not come for some time - the route to the Coppa final will not pair Roma with an 'easy' side again, and the battle for the Champions League spots in Serie A may be seen as too important to risk a teenager in certain games - but Di Francesco has shown that he is not afraid to use youth players unexpectedly. Zaniolo made his debut away at Champions League holders Real Madrid, for example. Perhaps Riccardi will get more chances to mix with the first team in 2019, and fans could be looking at a fifth Roman representing the team.
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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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