GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE Q&A
Today's Q&A comes from Amos Fiocchi, who, for his second question, asks:
If Juventus activate Strootman's release clause, do you think he is out? Or do you see him being loyal? Do the new talks of Fellaini coming to Roma mean it's close to a done deal? On a similar note, what do you think is the future for our midfield? I believe Strootman is of the character that would stay loyal. I think he is grateful to the club for standing by him through his injury years, and for the amount of trust that has been placed in him since then. He doesn't seem to be the kind of player who would accept a move to his club's rivals lightly. Having said this, I would be open to him leaving if his release clause is met. The only issue is, we can't keep selling players to our direct rivals. Juventus already have Pjanic, Benatia and Szczesny, and all played well against us when we faced off last week. If we want to compete with them, we can't keep helping them to deplete our own squad and add to theirs. I would hope Strootman recognises this, and that he would refuse any offer from Juventus. If another club came in for him from abroad, then maybe he could leave, because the price of his release clause (€45m) seems generous in comparison to his performances this season. Would Fellaini be the ideal replacement? I think he would be a good addition, although from what I have read, any deal would more likely be a pre-contract agreement, for him to join in the summer when his current Manchester United deal expires. Looking at it from the player's perspective, I think Fellaini needs a fresh challenge and Roma could be the ideal solution for him. One thing I do want to see in our existing midfield, though, is more of Lorenzo Pellegrini. He hasn't been used as often in the past month or so and despite his young age, he has shown enough promise and quality when he has featured. I think we should put more trust in him and give him more starts. Alternatively, I'd love to see Alessandro Florenzi playing in central midfield. There are many fans who argue that he shouldn't be playing at right back, but I don't think he's a winger either. For me, he's best in central midfield, but he hasn't played in that position for Roma in a while. Perhaps a sale of Strootman and the purchase of a new right back (which might be Aleix Vidal) would open up an opportunity for Florenzi to return to this position. Florenzi and Pellegrini would be two in-house solutions to our midfield, and both are hopefully long-term prospects. Signing Fellaini could be another good option, to add experience to the position. It is an area of the pitch that needs improvement, whoever comes into it, because we aren't seeing much creativity or goalscoring threat from midfield, which is needed for when our strikers are out of form. That may mean making signings, or trusting our current players, like Pellegrini, to step up and increase their contributions. What are your thoughts? What is the future of Roma's midfield, relating to these players? Would Strootman leave? Would Fellaini be a good replacement? Leave a comment with your opinions, then share the article on social media!
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Today's question comes from Craig Bannister, returning for a second time.
Do you think if Mohamed Salah had stayed at Roma this season, Roma would have won Serie A? It's difficult to say. Obviously the team would be better with Salah in it, as we are really missing his influence on that right wing. His pace, ability to carve open defences with his forward runs, and his goalscoring output from wide are absent from the team this season. This is also hindering the form of Edin Dzeko, who linked up well with the Egyptian, but has hit a stumbling block recently. Having Salah there could have improved Edin's form, and we would have been a lot more clinical in front of goal, in turn delivering more convincing results. Despite these points, it's still only December, and I think it's far too early to rule this team without Salah out of the race for the Scudetto. I think Napoli and Juventus are ahead of us in terms of ability, but it is tight at the top, and we have the opportunity to contend with them. We're four points off top with one game in hand, and the January transfer window is just around the corner. Although recent performances have been uninspiring offensively, we have the opportunity to put that right with some smart moves in the market. As you are hinting at, keeping Salah would have improved this attack, definitely, and we would have been a force to be reckoned with - but I still believe we're in with a chance with this squad, as long as we do things right in January. It's better to focus on what we can add rather than what we have lost - we should be turning our attention to finding the next signing who can have the same impact Salah had. How do you think Roma's season would have been different if Mohamed Salah had stayed at the club? Leave your comments below! Franco Ficetola supplies another question, this time regarding the defensive midfield role at Roma.
If Monchi really gets Badelj in the summer, who do you think will go through the exit door between De Rossi and Gonalons? For me, unless his performances drastically improve, it would have to be Gonalons. He hasn’t quite delivered since he’s been at Roma, certainly given he came with a decent reputation and experience. He doesn’t have the benefit of the years of loyalty and quality that De Rossi has given Roma, which can be used to justify keeping him here. Another thing: Gonalons and Badelj are the same age. I don’t think keeping two players of the same age in the same position is necessarily a good idea. It’s usually better to have one player more experienced than his competitor for the role. I do think Badelj is of the quality Roma need and could be our starting defensive midfielder if he was to be signed. De Rossi would be there as a competent, experienced backup. Finally, something I’ve always said is that De Rossi deserves the decision on whether or not he wants to retire with Roma, and so he shouldn’t be forced to leave. That’s why I think, performance depending, Gonalons would be the one shown the door. Which of the two players do you think would leave if the club signed another defensive midfielder, such as Milan Badelj? Thanks to football bloggers Three Men and a Football for providing today’s question.
Will Dzeko and Schick be able to play together? If so, would need Schick to operate out wide. Otherwise they rotate centre forward spot - will Dzeko form dip if not playing as regularly? I’m going to divide this answer into two parts. First, what I want to happen, and second, what I think will actually happen. I want to see Schick played as a centre forward. It’s his natural position, he’s more likely to score from there, and I think it would keep Dzeko on his toes, knowing his place in the team isn’t to be taken for granted. It would also give Dzeko a rest so that he can be fully fit for when he is most needed. I think Edin needs a break from starting, and that he would come back stronger if that happened. Rather than his form dipping, I think it would actually help him. Having invested so much money in Schick as well, it makes sense to play the Czech where he operates best. At the same time, it’s important to play someone who has had that amount of money spent on him. If that means playing him out of position, then that will have to be the case. And that’s what I think will probably happen - Schick will play as a right winger. It’s not his natural position, but he has talent, so he might be able to adapt well. Nonetheless, Schick is young, and a long-term prospect for Roma (hopefully). In the future, I’m sure he will be our number one centre forward. For now, he’ll either have to rotate with Dzeko or fill in elsewhere as he continues to learn the game. Where do you think Schick will be used? And where do you you want him to play? Have your say! Today's edition of the Q&A sees a question from Samson Delgado, from Manhattan, New York. Before we get to the question, you may be aware that Samson is a wheelchair user, after becoming paralysed from the chest down in an accident involving a drunk driver. Samson's dream is to watch Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, but this is an extremely expensive task for him. However, there is a GoFundMe page to help Samson get to Rome. You can view it via this link. Samson's question regards Roma's Champions League success, with the team having won Group C last night He is having a great season at Inter - but do you think Spalletti would have had us in a similar situation in the Champions League? The debate has already begun on Twitter; here's what's been said so far: @cafucreme: With Spalletti we would have taken 4 spanks against Madrid and Chelsea. And no turnover. No regrets farewell. @Giallorossi117: Yeah we lacked mental fortitude when we needed it most with Spaletti. At the same time he is a fantastic tactician and could bring the best out in every player. @SamDelASR87: Agreed. I think the only reason why they are contending for the title right now is because he has only had to concentrate on one competition. Just like Sarri. Or so they claim. That’s also why I think he has been lucky with injuries. He is known for barely rotating and wearing his players down to the bone. @Edwardkm111May: That's why he is successful with every team he has managed, even with us. [Inter] @SamDelASR87: He’s won some coppas. Hardly successful. A great coach, no doubt. Just a stubborn man. Personally and tactically. @Edwardkm111May: Yes, but if you look at his time outside Serie A, look what he did with Zenit, two leagues, it shows he can do a job any where he goes. He is one of the few coaches who doesn't rely on big name signings to get a team firing. @cafucreme: That's true, he deserved a bench in Milan/Inter/Juve since ten years but his stubborn temper played against him and he has a very strict view on things. As for Totti, coaches too have a limited time in a club. @Edwardkm111May: You guys should be grateful he got you in the Champions League after a while with a record points haul, which you're not seeing this season, at least under Di Francesco. @xavi_elci: Grateful? to the coach who left because he felt he was more important than Totti? To the coach who said he was Inter's coach before he even made the move? OK. @SamDelASR87: I would’ve been more grateful had he not bottled the two legs against Porto. Missed out on 40 million because of him. By the way. EDF has more points at the same stage of games as last season while ALSO putting us in a high chance of making it to the round of 16. @Giallorossi11: EDF all day long for me, I was gutted when LS left, but not anymore!!! 💛❤ @SamDelASR87: Yep! Me too but it has worked out for the best. The players are in high spirits with EDF. @Franco92C14: Apart from tactical matters, a big difference between EDF and LS is that the former one is not a media figure as the latter. LS sometimes looks like he wants the spotlight on him, EDF is always focused on work. Behaving like this, you can transmit a lot of good things to your players. @SamDelASR87: Agree 100% and I think that’s why the media is having a tough time cracking EDF. He doesn’t care about their opinion while LS totally does @Franco92C14: Exactly, that's the point! @Giallorossi11: Yes you are spot on, totally agree, he carries quite a big ego, which I didn't like, EDF has a humble approach which I love. @Franco92C14: Yep, me too. The influence of such an approach is widely underestimated, but it can really work wonders with an emotive team like Roma. @3menandafooty: LS is a complex figure. Last season it felt at times like he courted controversy to generate a media storm. Maybe he wanted out from an early stage. Why exactly is not clear. With a pinch of luck he could have won the title and been a hero in Rome for life! @Franco92C14: True. Complex figure + complex environment = problems. Never has an equation been simpler. SB: My take on matters is this. I don't think Spalletti would have matched Di Francesco's Champions League success this year. As has been pointed out on the thread, Spalletti doesn't utilise rotation in the same way EDF does. Therefore, the players under Spalletti would have struggled fitness-wise in Europe. Is it a coincidence that the success he's having this season is with a squad absent from European competition?
Spalletti is the kind of manager that knows his best eleven and sticks to it. However, this season's starting line up at Roma is viewed by many as weaker than last year's, so I think he wouldn't have been as successful with this squad as he was with last season's. Meanwhile, EDF has turned out to be the perfect fit for a squad characterised by depth, which was created in the summer by Monchi. I won't dwell unnecessarily on arguably Spalletti's biggest failure in his second spell with Roma - last season's play off defeat to Porto - but perhaps that was a reflection that the way he prepares his players isn't good enough. In contrast, EDF is highly regarded for his man-management abilities, and I'm sure he has the players in the right mindset in the dressing room before every game. He has a big character, and he'll pass some of that onto his players, instilling his values and winning mentality. One thing we've always known about EDF as a coach is that he relishes being the underdog - just look at what he achieved with Sassuolo. In this Champions League group he found himself in the same role, the underdog. And he did what he's always done: beat the odds to achieve success. What are your thoughts? Would Spalletti have been as successful in the Champions League had he stayed on at Roma for this season? The next question comes from Enzo Minicucci, Canadian Roma fan. Enzo and myself were featured on the same Roma 3x3 on the club’s website last week. Thanks for the question Enzo, here it is:
Does anyone think Gerson has a future at the club or will he be sold in the near future? Gerson has been seeing a bit more action this season, and has featured in some big games - with starts against Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina, for example. However, if he wants to secure his future at Roma, I think he needs to nail down one position as his own. He’s been playing either as a central midfielder or a right winger, and to develop any kind of consistency, he needs to make one of those positions his best. There’s no doubting he has talent, but, a bit like Cengiz Ünder, he needs to start scoring or getting assists. If he doesn’t, then having already had one season at the club, he may be moved on. I think it would be better to loan him out than to sell him though, as I do think he has potential. I predict that he’ll stay for the remainder of the season, and any decision on his future in the summer will depend on how he does up until that point. Do you think Gerson’s future is at Roma, or will he be playing elsewhere in the not-too-distant future? Get involved in the discussion below! Thanks to Franco Ficetola for providing another question! This time he asks:
What's you opinion on Ünder? Personally I like the player, and I would like EDF to give him more chances. Nevertheless, I have to admit that he's struggling to settle in. What do you think will he bring to the team once he finds confidence? I think he still needs time, but it would be good to see him start making meaningful contributions to games. He really needs that first goal to go in; once he’s scored, I think it will greatly increase his confidence. In Turkey, he scored several great goals, so once he gets one for Roma, more should come. I’d also like to see him play more, and perhaps he’ll get a few more chances over the next few games. He has to make the most of those opportunities though. At the minute he’s doing alright, but needs to have more conviction when shooting. I’d like to see him take on players more often too. Another thing that will be good for him will be when he properly learns the language. He isn’t fluent in Italian yet, which is fair enough given that he’s only been in the country a few months, but once he gets to grips with it, I think that could really help him. He’ll be able to understand more of what is wanted from him, and then he can enter games more confidently. He’s young and raw - he just needs a couple of things to work in his favour and then he should be able to kick on. He has some good teammates in his position to learn from, and over time we should start to see more of his qualities. At the minute though, it’s good that he can play without much pressure on him. Over to you: What have you thought of Ünder so far, and what do you think his future has in store? |
SamueL BannisterEnglish Roma fan and sports journalist. Archives
February 2019
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