Articoli Stefano Sale

0 Roma 1-1 Cagliari “Farce”

8 ottobre 2019
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

Conspiracy? Shameful? Farce? Everything and nothing. There are lots of possibilities. All valid. Let’s begin by saying we are happy that Fabio Pisacane of Cagliari is all well. We feared for the worst when we saw him collapse on the ground after watching Kalinic putting the ball at the back of the net.

Ironically, this is the incident that created the pandemonium that made Fonseca and his staff going ballistic at the referee. The match official did not say if it was a goal or not. No decision! Players waiting for several minutes and still no decision. First time ever in football.

Pisacane’s clash with his own keeper Olsen did no get him on the ground, it was after he saw the ball going in that he went down with hands on his face. Not disputing here if deliberate or not. Benefit of the doubt. But at least is not hurt.

What hurts is the referee’s decision to give Roma the stick throughout the game. Yellow cards for nothing, utter decisions that did not make sense to anyone, making our players very nervous. Cagliari’s penalty was given after the ref decided to see the VAR replay. Fine. Roma no goal decision was taken only after several minutes, the fans convinced we had won the game. A decision that needed VAR assistance but he decided not to. That is a disgrace. After the Bologna and Lecce shambles this is enough. Correct was Fonseca to go at him!

Now, Dzeko has a broken jaw, Diawara is another torn ligaments. More players out for long time. After Perotti, Pellegrini, Zappacosta, Mkhitaryan, Cetin and young Bouah and Calafiori. Cengiz Under on his way back, thank God. The International break is very much needed. Forza Roma!

0 Wolfsberg 1-1 Roma “Past-gone”

4 ottobre 2019
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

After the victory of Lecce, here is Fonseca’s Roma B in the Europa League. But it’s just a bad version of a soccer team. Expected to have a great desire to show off. A signal from those who have played little so far or from illustrious players with a desire for revenge. Instead, we have seen too little commitment and dedication to the cause.

The only mitigating factor is the upheaval made by Fonseca, eight changes, including the goalkeeper, among other things one of the few positives, along the lines of last season’s final. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do anything about the Austrian striker’s Eurogol. And Zaniolo, the only one to run around. Finally Fazio, who has done ok in defense, and even in attack.

But the rest of the team is badly done. Awful Diawara, Cristante and co. Pastore and Kalinic, both unwatchable. The question arises whether Pastore would still be able to play in this football. It has no physical or competitive pace. The technique alone can no longer work.

As for Kalinic, already three golden opportunities that did not exploit, but not only, a ghost in the field. He hasn’t played for two years. Wasn’t it better to take another more reliable one, a Llorente type ??

Not to mention Santon, who is still here but no one knows why. It is therefore all of Roma B here. Simply not up to par. Now all that remains is to wait for Roma A, Sunday with Cagliari. The Serie A, in fact. Need to see another show.

0 Lecce 0-1 Roma “Beyond the Abyss”

2 ottobre 2019
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner · Rubriche

Is this for real? Abyss is the name of another italian referee who thinks VAR should apply whenever fancy. Well, Roma were robbed once again of two clear penalties, but same as in Bologna, manages to get past all referees to claim the 3 points. All in spite of utter incompetence. We hope.

Nevermind of Kolarov missing a penalty, Roma looked focused, only not so cynical. Roma created 8 goal opportunities, in the end scoring only one. Edin Dzeko on the scoresheet again. But it is the amount of work involved, the creation of chances not converted. Zaniolo, Kluivert, Dzeko, Mkhitarian, Kolarov. All had opportunities. But at least, 3 points in the bag.

If Atalanta was a tough test, then Bologna and Lecce both deserve a mention. But Atalanta has shown that Europe is not the same. They are a good team in Italy. But Europe is another thing. Next Wolfsberger. With Pellegrini and Mkhitarian now out injured for weeks, and Under still out, then the reserve team will do. Give ‘em a chance. Then Cagliari, regulars only!

0 Roma 0-2 Atalanta “Ghosts of the past”

26 settembre 2019
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

“I’m becoming more Italian” didn’t bring good results. And experimenting too much sometimes doesn’t pay off. Fonseca went on to change because he was frightened of Atalanta, a good team but defeated 4-0 in Zagreb last week and struggled with Fiorentina last in the standings.

Seeing Atalanta fighting on all the balls, winning all the tackles, always first, was not a pretty sight. A slow Roma team, predictable, never pressing. A team never in control, in perpetual difficulty in the middle, who tried to react only in the last 10 minutes.

We need to say that Roma had its goal opportunities, from the resounding Zaniolo to Kalinic, going from Dzeko to Smalling. But they were flashes. Kalinic had two chances in two games and managed to always shoot at the goalkeeper. Smalling has played a good game, one of the few, too bad for that header.

This game should be forgotten quickly. One step back, a big disappointment, because we didn’t expect it. A pity because Fonseca has reshuffled the cards when perhaps there was no need. A bad game, a sign of weakness that has reduced the attitude and the path of the team made so far. Better to lose 2-3 but without distorting yourself. A mistake that we hope will never happen again. Next Lecce. Must win. Daje Roma.

0 Bologna 1-2 Roma “Justice”

22 settembre 2019
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

Victory! Edin Dzeko’s last second brace gives Roma the edge against a good Bologna side. And what a great feeling winning like this!

Roma showed good composure and another great goal by Kolarov from free kick. Yet, Bologna’s equaliser from the penalty spot was a harsh punishment and a game changer.

The Rossoblù went on to push with pace and hard tackles, the referee lost the plot giving several yellow cards to Roma players and hardly any to the opposition. The last straw when the ref failed to notice a clear handball for a certain penalty. VAR did not intervene. An absolute shambles.

In the end, Mancini gets a dubious second yellow card and he’s sent off. 93rd minute. Veretout breaks in for Pellegrini to cross into the head of Edin Dzeko who puts the ball past the keeper. Jubilant scenes. Justice is done. Three points. Never give up. Atalanta next. Bring them on! Daje Roma!

0 Roma 4-0 Istanbul B. “Turkish delight”

20 settembre 2019
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

The debut in the Europa League starts well. Victory that immediately puts Roma ahead in the standings along with the Wolfsburger revelation, given that even the Austrians scored four at home in Borussia.

Let’s also say that a lucky own goal unlocks a game that was put on a dead end, thanks to a performance that wasn’t up to par for the first half hour. Despite the obvious technical inadequacy, the visiting team had shown more desire, looking more forward. Roma plays with the the subs and risks something with the usual smears behind, with Fazio and Jesus still slow and clumsy, but also with Diawara too cumbersome and estranged to the game.

After the goal the team finally starts to play, more filter in the middle and several moves forward. It is another Roma team. More careful in defense, Diawara more alive in the game to sort out balls. Pastore did well with some good passes. He’s skilful but cannot play at this pace. Above all a great Zaniolo, all technical and power, a fury on the right flank, author of a great performance with goals and several valuable assists. Of another planet. Positive notes also from Kluivert and the usual Dzeko, once again on the scoresheet.

The important thing was to start well in this competition. Fonseca made himself heard at the end of the first half. You have to get used to always playing with the same intensity. The interpreters change but the end product must be the same. Next. A surprising Bologna team, our the first match away from the Olimpico. We don’t get too excited but we believe. Let’s go there to win, we must lay down our law and get the 3 points. It is necessary to give a strong signal. Forward we go. Daje Roma!

0 Roma 4-2 Sassuolo “Force 4”

17 settembre 2019
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

If Pastore netted that easy goal we would only talk about the magic wonders of Fonseca. Sub Zaniolo creates and sub Pastore converts.

Unfortunately, Zaniolo did create but Pastore did not convert. Yet Fonseca did some wonders anyway. Cristante quite impressive. Kluivert at last delivering the goods. New debut Veretout has everything to emulate Nainggolan.

But special mention goes to three players. Lorenzo Pellegrini, stellar performance as trequartista, man of the match. Henrik Mkhitaryan, presence and personality, goalscorer on his debut.

Last but not least, Edin Dzeko. Defends, attacks, scores. He carries the team on his shoulder. Focused. He transmit confidence. Florenzi might wear the armband but Edin is our leader.

Then, Paulo Fonseca. He’s creating a new team, so not everything is perfect in defense, with Fazio and Mancini. Chris Smalling will hopefully bring confidence and stability. Meanwhile, we don’t get too excited but we have high hopes. This team has potential. We need continuity. And if Pastore finds himself again would mean Fonseca has done a miracle. Next, Europa League. Daje Roma!

0 Lazio 1-1 Roma “Equal rights”

5 settembre 2019
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

Glass half-empty or half-full? It depends. Lazio has undoubtedly created more but then in football to hit the post tor skim a goal counts for nothing. If we were to make a count of missed opportunities every year which ranking would it be? Rome would have a few more championships under its belt, that’s for sure.

Goalkeeper, goal posts and crossbars are part of the game. No goal was denied here by anyone, Different if it were an injustice or mistake by the referee. But there are no disputes, apart from the ravings of Inzaghi about the penalty. It is a penalty all my life, with the new rules but also with the old rules.

Could Lazio win? Yes. And wouldn’t have robbed anything if won. But has Roma robbed something by equalizing. Nope. Well then, that’s right. Last year Roma won the woodwork rankings and we didn’t even go to the Champions League. So there’s no room for any argument here.

Lazio did not score either 5 or 6 goals. Of course, if Roma had conceded it would have been another story. And it is also clear that it is not a mystery that the defense is still not looking good, that there are mechanisms that still do not work and so on. But Lazio is the same team as in the last few years, Roma is still under construction.

Sure. Going backwards it is also true that Roma did not have to find itself in this situation of reconstruction. But now it is done, let’s go ahead without looking back. No point. We think that in the meantime other experienced players have arrived, then we’ll see if they are more or less functional. Meanwhile Mikhitaryan and Kalinic are here to give a hand. After the international break Roma will be tested again. Now starting from Sassuolo up to mid-October Roma have a sleeve of games that must try to win. So, let’s re-focus. Head down and pedal!

0 Roma 3-3 Genoa “bad start”

28 agosto 2019
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

Let’s start from where we stopped. From that wet farewell of Daniele De Rossi, the hugs with Totti and Ranieri that sanctioned the end of an era.

Without our Captains, then we went on to the Year Zero of Petrachi, with the arrival of Fonseca to witness the Edin Dzeko’s summer soap opera. When in the end we seemed getting back our confidence, here comes the blow that you don’t expect.

Roma begins fast and sparkling, torpedoes that predict a dazzling start. Instead we are then dampened by a series of negative episodes that opens a trail of questions.

The team runs out of gas too early, suffers an ordinary Genoa team and pays duty for defensive cockups. Three times upfront was not enough to bag the three points. So much disappointment at the end of the match.

The feeling remains the same. Roma lacks some solid players behind, in a game system that tries to push the opposition with high pressing and ball possession. Nothing new in this regard. Trouble is when you lose the ball.

Roma needs some quality players there, fast and reactive. Some people are casting doubts about the current personnel. Petrachi must act he has not yet satisfied the coach’s requests because he is looking for last-minute deals.

Perhaps these issues had to be straightened out first, knowing the technician’s profile requests. With Perotti out long term and Schick on his way too you will need to close deals within the next 48 hours. Florenzi could move in place of Perotti while Kalinic could be Dzeko’s new partner.

Doubt remains in defense. Who do we take now? Rugani? Lovren? But let’s hurry, Sunday comes the Derby and you can’t get it wrong. Need courage. Daje Roma!

0 Roma 2 Parma 1 ” DDR Forever”

30 maggio 2019
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

Daniele De Rossi finally said goodbye. The last match in the Roma shirt. An evening under the sign of “Romanismo” of self-regained love, after a disappointing season to say the least, where we barely collect the crumbs of the Europa League preliminaries. A night to remember also for the hugs with Francesco, Bruno with Claudio’s tears. And the ferocious singing against the club.

Roma is bunker where there is no glimmer of light. Or at least it looks like seen from outside. The refusal by Gasperini, which seemed already in Rome. Still unknown is the future of Totti, Massara, Petrachi or whoever for him. Not to mention the stadium. It is not clear what Pallotta intends to do, Baldini or whoever is in charge. We are waiting, knowing that something will have to happen, shortly though, a plan that has a future at least in the short to medium term.

Now it’s the turn of the journalists of La Repubblica, another hot potato, which now happens to be going backwards, insinuating spy stories between certain players with Totti, Di Francesco and Monchi. Stories to divide Roma fans once again. Daniele De Rossi promises legal action. But if it is true, why diggin it right now? It is not a good time for the Roma fan, but we willingly cling to the words of Daniele, the wind will return to blow, but we all have to believe in it, stand united and together. For now, thanks to all readers, Carlo Zampa and the editors. Happy holidays to all. Always Forza Roma!

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