GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE Q&A
The Giallorossi Yorkshire Q&A returns, with AS Roma North UK posing the question.
Q: What can we do to sort right back in particular? We can only hope Karsdorp hits the ground running and actually performs. I doubt Jonathan Silva is going to be our saving grace either. A: It's a difficult problem to solve, and to be honest, I don't think it will be solved this season. There will be an awful lot of pressure on Karsdorp when he returns from injury to perform, but it will take time with him. He can't just return from an ACL injury and play every game, and be guaranteed to play well. Let's hope he does well when he comes back, but we can't rest all our hopes on him. The two players being utilised at right back at the minute simply aren't good enough for the position. First and foremost, I will discuss Alessandro Florenzi. It should be clear by now that he cannot play as a right back. This isn't a kneejerk reaction to his abysmal display against Shakhtar - I thought he was poor against Udinese as well. In fact, he's not looked the same player he once was for over a month now. I feel he did quite well in his first month or so back from injury, but since then it has gone downhill. Perhaps it is another question of fatigue, but even so, playing him at right back is a liability. For all the criticism he has had, I believe Bruno Peres should start the next game, and the majority of games until Karsdorp is back. He's never been outstanding at Roma, and is one of the biggest disappointments in recent years. He equally struggled against Shakhtar, but I think he's slightly better defensively than Florenzi. This is no long-term solution, but it's all we've got in the short-term. The only other idea would be playing someone like Elio Capradossi at right back. It may turn out to be a bit of a baptism of fire for him, but as a natural centre back, he may be more switched on defensively than Peres or Florenzi. That could be an alternative idea if he can adapt to the role. It's an issue that should have been addressed in January, but, for whatever reason, was ignored. It could potentially cost us points over the remainder of the season, and an improvement will need to be signed in the summer if we want to challenge. Unfortunately, we have to make do with what we have at the minute. For me, that means predominantly playing Bruno Peres as right back until the return of Karsdorp. What do you think? How can Roma address the problem at right back? Join in the discussion with a comment below!
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With three goals and one assist in his last two games, Cengiz Under is certainly the hot topic of conversation for Roma fans at present, and he is the basis of today's Q&A, supplied by Craig Bannister.
Have Roma finally found the man to replace Mohamed Salah? It's certainly starting to look that way. There's been a tremendous lack of inspiration down the right hand side all season, but Cengiz Under is starting to put an end to that. The lack of goals or assists from other players deployed on the right wing, coupled with the Egyptian's superb form in the Premier League, made Salah's departure even more noticeable and frustrating. But with Cengiz, it looks like we have found an exciting solution. It's no coincidence that Cengiz's upturn in fortunes have coincided with the coach placing more faith in him. He's now started four consecutive games, and he is producing some fine displays for us. There's a strong argument to suggest he's been our best player since the return from the winter break, which I wholeheartedly agree with. I had spotted the signs that Under could accomplish great things from brief moments of skill in the matches against Sampdoria, which prompted me to write my article about him for asroma.com. Small things that he did well convinced me of his ability to have a more significant impact on games. And my arguments were vindicated to a level I couldn't have imagined. Less than a minute into the game against Verona, he got his first Roma goal, and some goal it was. This is what has been lacking from the right wing all season, but Under took responsibility despite his young age, and delivered for us. The next week, against Benevento, he did it again. For me, he was the man of the match, thanks to his two great goals and his superb assist. Without him, we might have been embarrassed and not won the game. But he produced three moments of special quality to help turn the game in our favour. Salah is so missed because of the influence he had in creating and scoring goals. Look at how frustrated Edin Dzeko has been without him this season. Cengiz Under is now starting to replicate those contributions of Salah's, and that is critical to the success of this team. It also appears that Cengiz is better with his weaker foot than Salah was, which is going to add another dimension to our attack. Under is only young, but his performances are seeing him become a key player for this side. In my opinion, he should be starting a lot more games before the end of the season, even against some of the bigger sides. And perhaps the most exciting thing about Cengiz is that he is still defined in terms of potential. He still has some things to improve, but he is beginning to outweigh them with the things he does well. As he improves further, I see no reason why he couldn't become the perfect resolution for our right wing. What do you think? Can Cengiz Under become the ideal Salah replacement? Join in the discussion with a comment! The Q&A returns with a contribution from Kris Pucci.
Once we are back at full strength (no more injuries), will we still need to bolster the squad? If so, what position needs the most help? With the exception of Rick Karsdorp, we are approaching a full-strength, injury-free squad. Obviously, it will take time to reintegrate Karsdorp back into the side after a lengthy layoff, but he is just one name who has the potential to strengthen the current side next season. Right back has been a problematic position, with Bruno Peres continuing to struggle, and Alessandro Florenzi either in need of a break, or a change of position. So, with Karsdorp's return, the right back area will be reinforced. If we could swap Peres in the summer for a better right back as well, that would be an ideal move. One area that still may need to be bolstered is the defensive midfield role. Neither Maxime Gonalons nor Daniele De Rossi are having their finest season, so this is a position that may still need improving. However, the switch to a 4-2-3-1 may alleviate the need for change. Playing as a defensive midfielder in this formation is slightly different to being the holding player in a 4-3-3, as you have another player alongside you to cover in a partnership. On Sunday, we saw Kevin Strootman and Lorenzo Pellegrini start in those roles, neither of whom would naturally be the holding midfield player in a 4-3-3 (although Strootman has played there). Therefore, if Di Francesco decides to stick with the new system that we saw on Sunday, there may be no need to strengthen that position after all. I'm happy with most other areas. The wings are fine; Diego Perotti and Stephan El Shaarawy are good enough as starters, and hopefully Cengiz Under's goal will have given him a new lease of life. As his agent said the other day, hopefully he will get more chances now as well. Perhaps one more player out wide would be ideal, but that player could easily be Gerson, from the current squad. The only other possible position that may need reinforcing is at centre back, although I'm interested to see what opportunities are given to Elio Capradossi there, now he has returned. If he does well enough when called upon, we may have found a suitable solution, without the need for entering the market. I'm not saying that the current squad is perfect. Some of them are still underperforming, and I wouldn't be against those players leaving in the summer. However, I'm working on the assumption that those players would be replaced with better players in the same positions. And once those replacements come in, there wouldn't need to be many additional signings on top of what we already have. |
SamueL BannisterEnglish Roma fan and sports journalist. Archives
February 2019
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